A 19-year-old farmer’s son from Mau district in Uttar Pradesh has drawn attention for his efforts to restore the heavily polluted Tamsa River. Kartik Sahni spent 22 days cleaning the river, removing more than 10 quintals of plastic and other waste that had accumulated in the water.
Kartik comes from a farming family whose fields depend on the Tamsa River for irrigation. However, increasing waste dumped by local residents and factories had severely polluted the waterway.
Pollution affected irrigation water and nearby crops. With little action to address it, Kartik began cleaning the river, inspired by Madhya Pradesh activist Bittu Tabahi’s Ajnar River campaign.
Without government funding or modern equipment, Kartik spent around three to four hours each day working in the polluted water. He faced foul smells, the risk of skin infections and encounters with poisonous snakes during the campaign.
Initially, some people mocked his efforts and advised him to concentrate on his studies. However, Kartik continued the campaign. His efforts later gained attention on social media, encouraging some local youngsters to join him.
After 22 days of sustained work, the river began to look cleaner. Kartik then focused on preventing the waste from returning. He arranged dustbins along the riverbanks and continues to monitor the area regularly to discourage people from dumping rubbish into the river.
Kartik now plans to turn his attention to old and drying ponds in the area and work towards their revival. He believes young people can make a difference by taking responsibility for at least one water body in their surroundings.
His efforts to clean the Tamsa River highlight how individual initiative can contribute to environmental conservation and inspire wider community participation.
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