Over the past weeks, we surveyed six tributaries of the Gomti river — Mala, Kathina, Bhainsi, Sarayan, Sai and Behta — across Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur and Hardoi districts. These lesser-known alluvial streams are sustained by groundwater and rainfall. We first surveyed these rivers 15 years ago in March 2011.
Returning now, we see a clear change — flows have diminished and natural vegetation on the banks had been levelled for crops. In many stretches, the flow had noticeably diminished. Some channels that earlier carried steady water now show signs of sluggish discharge, shallow depth, and fragmented connectivity with surrounding wetlands and floodplains.