Experts, students discuss India’s river future, freshwater ecosystems
The Statesman | 26 November 2025
Amid growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of India’s rivers, a day-long workshop at Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College (Autonomous) in Midnapore on Monday brought together experts, students, and community representatives to emphasise the critical intersection of science, ecology, and public involvement in safeguarding freshwater ecosystems.
Organised under the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) component of the SEBR/ANRF Project of the central government, the programme underscored that the future of river conservation hinges as much on informed citizens as on scientific intervention.
Nearly a hundred postgraduate students from the departments of geography and zoology participated in the workshop on “River Health, Ecology and Sustainability,” gaining practical exposure to methods of river assessment, pollution mitigation, and ecological monitoring. College principal Dr Swapna Ghorai, inaugurating the event, urged students to look beyond textbooks and become active participants in environmental protection initiatives. She proposed mobilising a group of 50 trained women volunteers to undertake regular monitoring of local rivers, emphasising that community vigilance can significantly strengthen conservation efforts.
The technical sessions brought together voices from both academia and the social sector.
Dr Biswajit Bera, assistant professor of geography at Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, delivered an engaging lecture on river morphology, the impact of channelisation, and the need for integrated river basin management. He highlighted how unplanned interventions disrupt hydrological processes and stressed the importance of basin-scale ecological planning in preventing long-term environmental degradation.
Dr Priyank Pravin Patel, assistant professor of geography at Presidency University, Kolkata, spoke on the scientific tools used to assess river health. He outlined ecological indicators, bio-assessment techniques, and the biological functions that sustain freshwater ecosystems, urging students to adopt rigorous, field-based methods in environmental research.
Complementing the academic perspectives, social worker and noted Nadi-Karmi Tapas Das addressed the human dimensions of river conservation. Drawing from his experience with community-led river campaigns, he underscored the need for policy reforms, public participation, and sustained grassroots activism. Das reminded participants that scientific knowledge reaches its true potential only when combined with citizen action on the ground.
By linking hydrological science with ecological understanding and civic responsibility, the workshop provided a holistic view of the challenges facing India’s river systems. For the participants, it offered both a learning experience and a call to action — reinforcing that sustainable river management demands an alliance between researchers, policymakers, and communities alike.