The Mahi river in Sardarpur, Madhya Pradesh, has turned into a dumping ground for biomedical and household waste due to the failure of civic authorities in waste management. This has resulted in alarming levels of pollution, endangering the lifeline of the town, which is also known as one of the sacred rivers of the country.
Mahi originates from Minda village, flowing through the Vagad region of Rajasthan before entering Gujarat and flowing into the Arabian Sea. In Sardarpur, the river is called Mahi Mata and is an important destination for thousands of devotees from Nimar, Malwa and Rajasthan regions who come to perform sacred rituals.
However, despite the Swachcha Bharat mission, which was launched in 2014 to ensure cleanliness and sanitation all over India, civic authorities have failed to keep the river pollution-free. The riverbank has been converted into a dump yard for waste, causing the alarming levels of pollution that we see today.
This failure of civic authorities is not just endangering the environment but also putting the lives of the people at risk. Alarmingly, the river is turning into a breeding ground for diseases, and if the issue is not addressed promptly, it may lead to a major health crisis.
It is high time that the civic authorities take serious measures to address the issue and ensure proper waste management. This includes setting up waste disposal facilities, educating the public about the importance of proper waste disposal, and imposing strict penalties on those who are caught dumping waste illegally.
The Mahi river is not just a lifeline for the people of Sardarpur, but also an essential part of the country’s heritage and culture. It is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that our rivers are clean and pollution-free, and we must do everything possible to protect them.
