Rivers, Up Close and Personal
Rivers have always played an important role in human life, providing water, food, and a place
for people to live and thrive. Long ago, rivers were respected and loved, even though they
could be dangerous, especially during floods. However, people learned to live alongside
rivers, using their resources wisely and avoiding risky areas. Over time, our bond with rivers
has weakened, and many people today have never even seen a river. Some rivers have
become so polluted that they are now more like drains than natural water bodies. This loss is
a big tragedy for us all.
Fish biologist Nilesh Heda shares memories of the Arunavati, a river he grew up with in
Maharashtra. He recalls how the river once provided water for his village and was home to
various fish species. It was also a place where children played, and people came together for
festivals and rituals. Unfortunately, over the years, the river has changed for the worse.
Pollution, silt buildup, and a growing population have caused the river to dry up and become
polluted. Fish diversity has declined, and people have lost their connection to the river. But
Nilesh remains hopeful as efforts are being made to revive it.
A similar story comes from Kerala, where the Kuttemperoor river nearly died due to
pollution and neglect. Once a lifeline for the Budhanoor village, the river provided drinking
water, helped with farming, and was used for transportation. But over time, sand mining and
dumping of waste caused the river to shrink and become choked with weeds and trash. By
2011, the river was nearly dead.
In 2013, the villagers decided to save their river. After years of planning, in 2017, a group of
700 volunteers began working to clean the river. They removed weeds, plastic waste and
other trash that had clogged the riverbed. Despite falling ill, the villagers continued their hard
work, and after 70 days, the Kuttemperoor river began to flow again. The water levels in
nearby wells also rose, and fish returned to the river.
Although the water is not yet safe for drinking, the villagers are hopeful. Their success story
proves that with effort and care, any river can be brought back to life.
GRAMMAR DETERMINERS Definition of Determiners - Determiners are those words that are prefixed before nouns to determine their meaning. They can be divided into the following types: 1) Articles- a, an, the 2) Demonstratives- this, that, these, those 3) Possessives- my, your, our, his, her, its, their 4) Indefinite Adjectives- some, any, much, many, little, few, less 5) Others- all, each, every, both, neither, either, other, another, enough, most, several, one, two, etc. 1. ARTICLES (TYPE OF DETERMINER) (1) The Definite Article (The) "The" is called the definite article . It defines its noun as something specific (e.g., something previously mentioned or known, something unique, something being identified by the speaker). This is the lake. (This is a previously specified lake, i....
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