Half a century ago, the Sot River flowed gracefully through Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh, nourishing lush paddy fields and peppermint crops that fed local communities. But decades of encroachment and neglect had reduced this vital tributary of the Ganges to little more than a memory, leaving farmers desperate and communities struggling with both drought and flooding.

When IAS officer Manish Bansal arrived as district magistrate in 2022, he discovered a landscape transformed by loss. Where a river once flowed, he found only disconnected puddles, forgotten culverts, and farmland planted over what should have been a waterway. The monsoon seasons brought waterlogging instead of relief, and hand pumps 50 feet deep ran dry as the groundwater table plummeted. The region's natural drainage system had simply disappeared.

Rather than accept this as inevitable, Manish saw opportunity. He envisioned bringing the river back to life, and immediately set about turning that vision into reality.

The revival began with a comprehensive survey that revealed the Sot River's true extent: an impressive 110-kilometer stretch flowing from Amroha district in the north to Budaun in the south, touching 71 gram panchayats across five development blocks. Armed with this knowledge, the team began the meticulous work of physical demarcation, using revenue land records to identify the river's natural alignment.

Clearing encroachments proved challenging but necessary. Working collaboratively with local residents, the administration explained that restoring the river would benefit everyone. Though farmers had begun using the riverbed as cropland, they understood the greater good at stake. Without permanent structures to demolish, the process moved smoothly through cooperation rather than conflict.

The transformation truly took shape when MGNREGA workers joined the effort, cleaning and desilting the riverbed to restore its natural capacity. Started in December 2022, this massive community effort reached completion by June 2023, just in time for the monsoon season.

The results exceeded even optimistic expectations. When the rains came, the Sot River captured the water beautifully, flowing freely for the first time in generations. Areas that had suffered chronic waterlogging during monsoons suddenly found relief as water flowed naturally toward the river. The waterway remained rejuvenated for two and a half months, and micro check dams built along its length helped slow runoff and maximize water retention.

The Ripple Effect

The success story resonated far beyond Sambhal's borders. In September 2023, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the project during his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" radio program, inspiring neighboring districts. Both Amroha and Budaun launched their own river revival projects, extending the Sot's restoration upstream and downstream.

To ensure long-term success, the team planted 10,000 bamboo saplings along the riverbanks, creating natural barriers against future soil erosion while beautifying the landscape. Local gram panchayats took ownership of maintaining their sections, ensuring the river's continued health.

Today, the Sot River flows again, bringing water security, eliminating flooding problems, and restoring hope to farming communities. What seemed like an impossible dream just two years ago now stands as a shining example of what dedicated leadership, community cooperation, and environmental commitment can achieve together. The river that was once a lifeline has become a lifeline once more, proving that even the most daunting environmental challenges can be overcome with vision and collective action.