'Change in mindset can save Yamuna'

Water conservationist Rajendra Singh is pained by the decay in the Yamuna, the city’s lifeline, and wants better commitment from the Delhi government and affection from people for reviving the river.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, credited with bringing to life seven rivers in the catchment area of Yamuna, said, “If the government gives commitment, they can save the Yamuna from perishing.”

He said nowadays governments seem interested more in taking water from others rather than putting in efforts to recharge their own water bodies.

“This approach is certainly not going to create flow in Yamuna. If they really want to, they must conserve the rain,” said Singh, who is popularly known as the Waterman of India for his achievement of ending water woes in over 1,000 villages.

The winner of the Stockholm Water Prize 2015 also wants people of Delhi to show a greater love for nature if Yamuna is to be brought back to life. “All they should do is inculcate love and respect for nature. Love, respect and affection towards nature is the approach and sentiment needed,” he said, adding that trust between people and the government was the key to Yamuna’s bright future.

The waterman who has revived rivers like Arvari, Ruparel, Sarsa, Bhagani, Jahajwali and others, is confident that the obituary of the Yamuna should not be written just yet. “If we can rejuvenate (water bodies) in a semi-desert region or desert region like Rajasthan, we can create recharge anywhere and everywhere,” he said.

“Right now the problem with Yamuna is that we are mixing the river and sewer. We have to separate them with our techniques,” he said. The financial viability of Yamuna’s revival does not appear to be a problem to him.

“If I can create 11,000 water bodies with people’s cooperation, my government is more powerful and resourceful,” he said.
But why is that nothing much has happened all these years? “It is simply because they are not bothered about the common future. They are only bothered about the money.

That money is going in corruption that only results in non-cooperation from the stakeholders.” “If people know that their money will go in the right place and not be misused, it will help bring a change in the mindset. It is essential to create faith, trust and confidence with people and government. Cooperation has to come from both sides,” he said.

Talking about the Stockholm Water Prize, also known as the Nobel Prize for Water, he said the prize reflects the growing recognition for indigenous knowledge system and Indian wisdom, which is rich in water conservation and ways of disciplined use of water.

“After this announcement, the authorities from Britain have invited us to check the management of the Thames because of the recent flooding in the river, for the first time ever. This indeed shows the respect for our traditional water management techniques,” he said.