India is a water-rich country with 4% of the world’s water resources. The rivers have been the heart and soul of India’s growth as well as culture. We pray to rivers as The God. But a couple of months back, research was conducted on the Indian River System and revealed that the river water is highly contaminated. And aquatic life is disturbed. The level of freshwater is also decreasing. The government is taking initiatives to restore the water level in the river in its ancient and original form. In India, there are two types of rivers, The Perennial and the Non-Perennial River. More importantly, in the present era, river systems have the following potential uses: navigation, water power production, fish culture, water supply, habitation, recreation, industry, commerce and transport, mining, wastewater disposal, international borders and harbours. People are destroying the river system. There is a concern that if we pray to the river as a god, how can we destroy it? The government started a campaign, namely River Rejuvenation. So, let us discuss why there is a need to run the campaign.

All ancient and modern civilizations develop on the river bank. River Water supports the life of humans, Wildlife and Aquatic. We use river water for many purposes like domestic (drinking, washing, bathing etc.), Industrial (for manufacturing products), Agricultural (irrigation). Aquatic life depends on the river for survival. Transportation (import and export of raw materials) relies on the flow of the river. The river water is also used for the generation of electricity and hydropower.

We shamelessly dump domestic, industrial, electronic waste in the river and destroy it. We encroach the river basin and its flood area for our sustenance. We don't even have a realization of to what extent it is going to harm aquatic life. In future, we will have no freshwater for our domestic as well as industrial use. Decreasing the water level is a sign for us to think about our river water system. Otherwise, we will face the problem in future. And as the alarming water crisis prevails in the world, it is real-time to do something. The government is taking initiatives against wastewater treatment. As responsible citizens, we also have to do something not to pollute the river- a source of water.

Be like the river encountering a rock- flow with grace around any obstacle.- Scott Shaw

The government woke up and made rules and regulations to install a sewage treatment plant to save the river water. Rules state that you can not directly discharge the wastewater into the River. If you fail to do so, you will charge a penalty. A sewage treatment plant must be installed near the River so that wastewater treatment happens before going back to the environment. First of all, individuals have to understand that River is not a drainage system. It is the lifeline of living beings—River is considered a source of water. Sewage Treatment Plant of 481 MLD installed near Ganga in Kanpur. The total wastewater inflow at STPs is 24011 MLD, around 50 percent of the entire treatment capacity. Delhi Government is also planning to install STP near the Yamuna River. So, the government is strictly taking action against the setting up of a STP on a large number of parameters.

We can save our river system by active participation. The need is to be aware of the public by running campaigns, encouraging them, giving incentives. Government plays a key responsibility to appreciate the people who are into the system, who work closely to set up STPs. We can also achieve success initially by installing wastewater treatment methods in societies, industries, and offices. ETP, CETP or STP must be installed at the workplace to treat wastewater at its origin. Developing an idea regarding the issue is the mantra behind the problem instead of blaming the present government. It is our responsibility to take care of nature. Treat wastewater before discharging it to the environment.

It's high time to wake up and take the proper steps in the right direction so that future generations live healthy. The conclusion we have drawn from the above article is that setting up an STP near the river serves the purpose of wastewater treatment. But dumping waste into the river is not a good habit. People have to be responsible for saving up the source of the water. Our goal only achieves success when every individual participant comes forward.