A River Turned Away: Tracing the Vrishabhavati
Richa Shreebalaji
I grew up in Bangalore, yet I had no idea a river flowed through my own neighbourhood. But then again, how would anyone know? Hidden behind fences and used as a dumping ground, its waters have turned black.
It no longer resembles a river, only a slow moving drain that we have learned to ignore.
On the 7th of Feb, we set out to conduct a citizen audit of a small section of the Vrishabhavati river flowing through Bangalore organised by Mod Foundation. Vrishbhavati river is a tributary of Arkavati said to originate from the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi. The water that was once considered sacred, is now filled with hazardous pollutants and treated as a drain.
We were a group of about 15 people who were divided into teams of three people to collect data. Each person had a role to play. The Navigator led us to the different points from which data was to be collected. The second person recorded the physical condition and adjoining utilities. The third person assessed the water quality and solid waste. Each person recorded their observation on the ODK Collect app by answering questions and taking pictures of that parameter.
At our first point, we hit a dead end – quite literally because the road ended there. We ventured into a park from where we were closest to the marked point. Except there was a tall green fence that blocked our sight of the river. The park was very well maintained with lots of trees and benches. A serene river flowing alongside it could have uplifted the environment even more, bringing together the people of the community to celebrate our commons. Even though our sight was compromised, we could hear the water flowing as we were graciously greeted by a strong smell of sewage. When we finally did see the river, it was nothing less than what I had imagined with black murky waters and waste floating around.
My father would tell me of the time when he and his friends used to play in the stream that flowed next our house. Can you imagine experiencing that in the urban traffic filled, polluted Bangalore that we know of today? Reading about the K100 Rajakaluve Rejuvenation by Mod Foundation brought the hope back about seeing clean waterways in Bangalore. With pedestrian friendly spaces and plants enhancing the once open drain into a vibrant green public space. Collecting data is the first step in taking action and participating in such citizen audits is one way to do so. I plan to continue this work by conducting audits in different neighbourhoods, and I hope you will too.
Collecting data is the first step in taking action
About the Author
Richa is a final-year student of Economics and Environmental Studies & Climate Science at Azim Premji University. Her interests lie at the intersection of ecology and urban systems, particularly in understanding how cities interact with water, air, and the landscapes around them. An avid trekker who feels most at home in the hills, she brings that same curiosity to exploring Bengaluru’s lakes, drains, and commons. Through research and field work, she hopes to better understand how everyday environmental systems shape the city we live in.
