The Lower Sarju River has been recognized as a key turtle conservation habitat in the Tarai Arc Landscape. The dumping of religious discard, household wastes and discharge, waste dumping, industrial discharge and a disregard for the environment have jeopardised the river system- resulting in the loss of suitable habitats for the fishes and turtles.

The Sarju River Clean Campaign was launched in May 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 40 weeks successful clean-up campaign came to a halt. However, the campaign was reinitiated in January 2021 with Kirloskar Ebara Pumps Limited (KEPL) support.

KEPL provided the following supplies for the river clean-up campaign:

• Litter Pickers (20*788)
• Industrial Anti-Cut Gloves 20* 170)
• Trashbags (5 * 80)
• Wheelbarrow (2* 27000)
• Projector (Sonic Light Stream PJD5555W Projector black / WXGA 1280X800 DLP Projector)

The litter pickers and industrial anti-cut gloves were used to handle deleterious waste items. The trash bags couldn’t find much usage due to sharp materials. The Wheelbarrows were efficient in collecting and transporting large chunks of waste.

The other activities carried out with the help of KEPL were:

• Long Term population monitoring of turtles to understand the rapidly decimating turtle population and the associated dynamics of the Lower Sarju River system.
• Makeshift school for children of the marginalised community to provide basic education and knowledge of various aquatic diversity that inhibits the river around them.

Improving nutrition and food security of the Riparian community through the initiation of small-scale farming.