Uttar Pradesh: How 30,000 villagers revived a dying river and changed their lives

In a remarkable feat of community effort, over 30,000 residents from 20 villages in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, have spent the past 10 months restoring the course of the Sakarni river, which had been severely impacted by encroachments. Once a vital resource for local farmers, the seasonal river had become shallow and less useful due to the expansion of farmland onto its banks over the last decade.

The Sakarni river, a tributary to the Sai and ultimately part of the Ganga system, had its natural flow disrupted as encroachments altered its path and diminished its depth. This change significantly affected the agricultural productivity of the region.

Ajay Krantikari, a local environmental activist and head of the NGO Paryavaran Sena, spearheaded the restoration campaign. Krantikari first highlighted the issue to the district environment committee, led by the district magistrate, advocating for the river's rejuvenation.


On October 13, 2023, thanks to Krantikari's advocacy, the district authorities included the Sakarni river in the small rivers’ rejuvenation initiative under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). This initiative aimed to restore the river to its natural 27.7 km course.

Old revenue records were reviewed to trace the river's original path, which had nearly been forgotten by the local population. Over the following 10 months, more than 30,000 villagers engaged in the restoration work, which not only revived the river but also provided employment opportunities within their blocks.

The district administration invested Rs 1.35 crore into the project. As per a TOI report, the district development officer Shri Krishna said, “The rejuvenation of the Sakarni river was achieved with substantial help from the local communities. The river is now flowing along its natural course. Following a thorough survey and analysis, we removed all encroachments along the river’s path.” He added that the revitalised river is once again supporting the livelihoods of people in Laxmanpur and surrounding areas.

Inputs from TOI