Special Publications

In India majority of the rivers are in dire straits with the flows depleted or dried up due to unregulated development, and polluted. This owes to the lack of public knowledge and awareness about river environment and ecology. In fact a river is not an entity by itself, but is intimately connected to rainfall, topography, soil, forestry, infiltration, runoff, evaporation and groundwater. River flows recharge groundwater in monsoon which in turn sustain the flows in lean months. Groundwater plays a vital role in sustaining perennial river flows. Restoration of overexploited groundwater is crucial part of river rejuvenation program. Artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting are the two innovative means to augment groundwater. This book aims at presenting the concept and methodology of rejuvenation of degenerated rivers as successfully implemented in the Kumudvathi river basin in Karnataka under the aegis of Art of Living, Bengaluru, which sets a Proto type model for other river basins in India too. Geological Society of India is grateful to The Art of Living especially Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji for rendering valuable guidelines and directions in the two-day seminar on Kumudvathi regeneration. The key papers presented in the seminar are compiled in this publication after peer review. The Society is also thankful to Sri Subhajyoti Das, former Director, Central Groundwater Board for meticulously editing the book for publication.