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.