Efforts by Research and Relief Society

The Research & Relief Society which is involved with an aim to create a better world for the underprivileged took up the task to bring to the notice the pitiful condition of the river. With its committed members, the Society started working towards a cleaner Kali and reviving it to its original scores.

As it has already been discussed the villages, domestic sewages and industries have been the major contributors towards ending the life of the river. The Society has as a measure appealed to the industries towards draining their waste water only after passing it through the efficient effluent treatment plant. Convincing the Industries has always been a difficult task.

The Society through its different efforts which shall be discussed herein in great details also has appealed to the local government authorities towards installing water treatment plants on all the sewages before being drained into the river.

The major activity with which the Research and Relief Society has been involved in is reducing or rather aiming at no pollution from the villages. The villagers through their different activities have been exploiting the river in many ways. This included, the domestic waste water going into the river untreated; the sand being tilled from the river bed thus reducing the difference between the river and the ground water aquifer and hence facilitatingthe leaching and making it easier for the dirty water to recharge the ground water aquifers. The steps taken by the organisation are discussed herein in great details.

Kali Nadi Raksha Samitis formed

The Research & Relief Society worked extensively towards empowering the villagers to save the river which was once a major source of water for their domestic as well as irrigational usage. Thus the Society brought together around 20 villages which are located on the catchment of the river in District Meerut by creating Kali Nadi Raksha Samitis in all these villages. The Samitis formed included 20-25 members from each of this villageitself. These members were empowered within the village to work towards a better river and contribute in all ways towards its cleaner existence.

A tree plantation drive had also been initiated by the Committees thus formed and has been able to plant over 250 trees on the banks of the river. This has certainly led to better water being recharged into the ground water aquifers as along with the trees, even the harvesting structure has been build along.

Bringing these committees together, meetings are held, in which the problems and prospective solutions are discussed and further implemented in each of these villages. The major aim of this activity was to create awareness among these villagers. A movement in the form of the Clean Kali Campaign was initiated by the society which was well received by the villagers and the society received immense co-operation. This was to create sensitivity among the villagers and to stop immediate exploitation from amongst the villagers at least.

Due to this activity, the domestic waste which was being drained from the villages has been stopped with immediate effect and is being diverted towards other channels. In some of the villages, due to the efforts of the society the villages have agreed upon installing the Plant of Reverse Osmosis in order to reuse the water. Thus in any circumstances, the waste water from the villages would not be drained into the river.

In addition to this, the sand being collected up from the river bed has stopped and the villagers through the committees formed do not allow people to come from outside and do the same. Thus to a great extent, due to the dedicated efforts of the Society and members ofthe Committees formed, the exploitation of the river has been stopped in this respect from the District Meerut.

The leaching which was being facilitated by the over exploitation of the river bed is alsoprevented to certain levels and thus reducing the pollution of the ground water aquifer. Inaddition to this, due to the clotting of the heavy metals present in the river water, the flow of the river was restricted at various places. Now through the continuous efforts of theCommittees formed, such clots are removed and the adding up of the heavy metals isprevented, leading to no new clots being formed. This also helps in less leaching of the river water into the ground water aquifers and facilitates a swift movement of the river water.

Moreover, a Protest Campaign was also launched at the Collectorate involving all the villages in front of the District Magistrate and Commissioner of Meerut. Attendance of over 200 was marked at this Campaign and has certainly led to an impact on the Local Authorities.

On 22nd March 2009, marking World Water Day an event was organised at the bank of the river in Village Saini. This was a formal launch of the Protection of the River Kali (East) Campaign and was marked with a presence of over 50 people from various spheres.

Free Health Check Up Medical Camps have also been regularly organised on a regular basis in the localities affected by the pollution. This has certainly led to a financial support to the poverty struck villagers as now for small diseases they do not have to travel long distances and also can get medicines for free.

A Letter informing the pitiful condition of the River was also submitted to the Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board. This was well received and the Society has been promised full co-operation from the Board for its activities towards the protection of the river. Positive Action was also promised by the Chairman towards the Revival of the River.

It is felt, that with all these efforts and reduction in the pollution of the river and the ground water aquifers, it would certainly lead to better living conditions of the villages located in the catchment of the River Kali. Through the dedicated and committed efforts of the Society and the Committees, a better tomorrow is envisaged for the people affected today.