Setting the Context
Flowing through the heart of Bihar, the Kosi River has long been more than just a geographical entity—it is a cultural cornerstone, a vital water source, and an agricultural enabler for millions.
Originating from the glacial regions of Tibet and Nepal, the Kosi is a transboundary river system that merges with the Ganga near Kursela in Katihar district. But in recent decades, the challenges facing the Kosi have multiplied beyond seasonal flooding.
The river is now grappling with massive pollution levels, riverbank encroachment, untreated sewage, and plastic waste dumping. Rapid urbanization and poor planning have resulted in rampant water pollution and declining biodiversity.
This is where transformative initiatives like Earth5R and its award-winning BlueCities model come in. With its integrated approach to river cleanup, circular economy, and community-based sustainability, Earth5R is working toward not just river cleaning, but complete ecological restoration.
Key Problems Facing the Kosi River
Once a symbol of fertility and freshwater abundance, the Kosi River today faces a multi-dimensional environmental crisis.A comprehensive river cleanup strategy is urgently needed to address the following critical problems.
Sewage and Wastewater Pollution
A major contributor to the Kosi’s degradation is the discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage into the river. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Bihar generates approximately 1,090 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, of which only 10% is treated, leaving a massive gap in treatment capacity.
In cities like Saharsa and Supaul, there is little to no sewage infrastructure, meaning most wastewater is diverted directly into water bodies.
Monitoring by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board has shown dangerously high levels of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the Kosi’s waters, both of which are indicators of organic pollution.
Solid Waste Dumping
Solid waste—especially plastic—has become a dominant pollutant in the Kosi. Due to lack of waste management facilities and weak enforcement of environmental laws, the riverbanks have turned into informal dumping grounds for plastic waste, construction debris, and domestic garbage.
A 2018 study by NIT Patna highlighted that over 80 tonnes of solid waste were being disposed of daily along the Kosi’s tributaries and embankments, much of it eventually ending up in the river.
Plastic waste management remains a particularly neglected area in rural and peri-urban Bihar, where single-use plastics still dominate local markets despite regulatory bans. This calls for urgent recycling, segregation, and circular economy interventions to redirect this waste stream away from rivers.
Water Quality Degradation
The cumulative effect of sewage and waste dumping is a sharp decline in water quality. Studies from the National Institute of Hydrology have revealed contamination by heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, in the Kosi river, which are likely leaching from industrial run-offs and outdated water infrastructure.
Algal blooms, foul odours, discoloration, and the death of aquatic fauna have become frequent occurrences, especially during the lean flow months between March and June. These are all classic signs of an ecological system under duress.
Loss of Biodiversity
Once home to a rich variety of fish species, turtles, and aquatic birds, the Kosi’s biodiversity is now in decline. A recent survey by Rajendra Agriculture University in Pusa indicated a 60% reduction in native fish populations over the past 20 years.
This biodiversity loss also impacts local fishermen and farmers, reducing their livelihood options and pushing communities deeper into poverty. The absence of aquatic diversity is not just a biological concern—it is a human and economic crisis.
Riverbank Encroachment
Encroachment on the riverbanks has reached alarming levels. Satellite imagery published by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shows that more than 35% of the Kosi’s floodplain has been encroached upon in the last two decades, particularly around towns like Saharsa and Madhepura.
Such land-use violations reduce the river’s natural capacity to flow, recharge aquifers, and absorb excess rainfall—making the region more vulnerable to urban flooding and erosion.
Groundwater Contamination
The leaching of pollutants from solid waste and sewage into nearby aquifers is causing groundwater contamination—a serious issue in a region where 80% of the rural population depends on handpumps and wells for drinking water. Data from Public Health Engineering Department, Bihar show the presence of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic in groundwater samples from areas adjacent to the Kosi River.
The health implications include a rise in gastrointestinal diseases, skin disorders, and potential long-term effects like cancer from heavy metal exposure.
These issues make climate action and environmental awareness critical in preventing further human suffering.
The Urgent Need for Intervention
Each of these problems is interconnected—solid waste contributes to water pollution, which reduces biodiversity, which in turn affects livelihoods and public health. A fragmented approach will not solve this.
The Kosi River stands today at a critical tipping point. Unless we act swiftly with data-backed interventions and stakeholder collaboration—including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Environmental NGO leadership, and government regulation—we risk losing one of Bihar’s most important ecological lifelines.
This infographic shows the course of river Kosi—originating from Nepal and flowing through India into Bangladesh. It highlights the transboundary nature of Kosi and its geographical significance in South Asia.
Consequences of River Neglect
Neglecting the Kosi River does not just affect the water—it disrupts ecosystems, economies, public health, and the lives of millions. Known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”, the river’s mismanagement reveals a deeper failure in environmental planning, policy execution, and citizen engagement. Below are the cascading consequences of continued inaction.
Public Health Risks
The most immediate and visible impact of Kosi’s pollution crisis is on public health. Residents along the river frequently suffer from waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis due to contaminated drinking water drawn from the river or adjacent wells.
According to a study by the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), areas in Saharsa and Supaul have disease incidence rates 2–3 times higher than Bihar’s average, correlating strongly with unsafe water sources.
The presence of toxic heavy metals, confirmed in Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reports, has also been linked to long-term illnesses like neurological disorders, kidney failure, and developmental issues in children.
Increased Urban Flooding
The mismanagement of the Kosi has significantly increased the region’s vulnerability to urban flooding. The river’s embankments—originally designed to contain seasonal floods—are now weakened by encroachment and siltation.
A report by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) indicates that flood frequency and intensity have risen over the past two decades, with the 2008 Kosi flood displacing over 3.3 million people, causing 500 deaths, and devastating critical infrastructure.
Economic Losses
The environmental neglect of the Kosi River comes with significant economic costs—both direct and hidden. Flood damages alone account for hundreds of crores annually. According to Bihar Disaster Management Authority (BDMA), flood-related damages between 2000 and 2020 exceeded ₹13,000 crore.
Agricultural livelihoods, especially in Kosi’s fertile basin, have been severely impacted due to declining water quality, erratic flows, and siltation. Farmers are experiencing reduced yields, soil degradation, and increased input costs.Without ecological restoration and sustainable development, these sectors cannot recover.
Social Inequality
This infographic highlights the alarming levels of siltation in the Kosi River, identifying sediment hotspots and showcasing the scale of environmental and infrastructural damage. It reinforces the urgent need for integrated restoration strategies like Earth5R’s BlueCities model to transform this lifeline under threat into a model of sustainable urban-river coexistence.
Environmental degradation intensifies social inequalities, particularly in ecologically sensitive and economically vulnerable zones like the Kosi belt. Dalit, Adivasi, and minority communities, who often inhabit encroached or marginal lands along the river, bear the brunt of both pollution and disaster.
According to the Institute of Human Development (IHD), households in flood-prone areas of Bihar are 50% more likely to face economic insecurity and 30% more likely to migrate due to environmental distress.
These communities are often excluded from formal disaster compensation frameworks and are rarely engaged in environmental awareness campaigns or climate action policies. This makes the case for inclusive citizen participation, green jobs, and skill development programs even more urgent.
Decline in Livelihood and Job Opportunities
The Kosi was once a source of abundant livelihood opportunities, especially in fishing, agriculture, and local river-dependent trades. Today, these sectors are collapsing due to water pollution, biodiversity loss, and seasonal unpredictability.
Over 70% of fishery-dependent households in Madhepura have reportedly shifted to daily wage labor or seasonal migration, as noted in a study by ActionAid India.
Moreover, the region’s youth remain disconnected from potential green jobs, such as waste management professionals, biodiversity monitors, and river restoration workers. Building resilient livelihoods through recycling, training workshops, and environmental certification can reintegrate jobless youth into the solution ecosystem.
The Interconnected Crisis
What the Kosi River illustrates is an interconnected ecological crisis with cascading consequences. Poor waste management leads to river pollution, which deteriorates public health and impacts local livelihoods.
To reverse this decline, we must embed sustainability into the river’s recovery—through transparent governance, multi-stakeholder action, and a circular economy framework that aligns environment with economy.
Why Past Efforts Have Failed
Despite decades of interventions, the Kosi River continues to suffer from degradation, pollution, and flood-related disasters. The reasons are not just technical—they are deeply rooted in flawed systems, fragmented governance, and lack of long-term vision.
Fragmented Responsibilities Between Agencies
One of the core reasons for repeated failure is the overlap of responsibilities among various government bodies at central, state, and local levels. Institutions like the Water Resources Department, Urban Development Ministry, Disaster Management Authorities, and local municipalities operate in silos, often working with conflicting priorities.
According to Down To Earth, this lack of coordination has led to policy paralysis in water governance across India.
The absence of a centralised river basin authority means that there is no single point of responsibility or accountability.
Focus on Beautification Over Ecological Restoration
Several government schemes, especially under the Namami Gange umbrella, have prioritized cosmetic beautification—like building ghats, LED lighting, and public parks—over scientific river restoration. For instance, a CAG audit of Namami Gange revealed that despite huge expenditures, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels remained unsafe in many river stretches, including tributaries like the Kosi.
As Earth5R explains in this article on scientific restoration, effective restoration requires a nature-based approach—not concrete interventions.
No Real-Time Public Monitoring or Transparency
Another significant failure is the absence of real-time monitoring systems and public data dashboards that can track pollution levels, encroachment, or illegal waste dumping. A report by IndiaSpend highlighted how pollution levels in Indian rivers have worsened, largely due to the lack of timely data and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Without transparency, citizen participation remains minimal, and communities remain unaware of the river’s real condition. Earth5R’s Mumbai River Cleanup Model provides an example of how technology, data, and community-driven platforms can radically improve environmental outcomes.
Short-Term, Politically Driven Projects
Most river-related projects in the Kosi region suffer from short-termism—designed to show quick results before elections rather than build long-term resilience. As per The Hindu, even the best-intended initiatives fail due to frequent policy reversals and lack of follow-up mechanisms.
This makes the river restoration process vulnerable to discontinuity. In Kosi’s case, repeated shifts in project priorities—from flood control to sanitation to afforestation—have created a fragmented landscape of underperforming interventions.
Lack of Continuous Citizen Engagement
River restoration cannot succeed without the active engagement of local communities. Yet in Kosi’s basin, citizen involvement is mostly symbolic—limited to annual clean-up events or token workshops.Earth5R, argues that sustained environmental change requires behavioral shifts, not just infrastructure upgrades.
Unlike models in Europe or even some Indian cities like Pune, where River Keeper Programs empower locals as stewards of water bodies, the Kosi restoration efforts have not tapped into community potential.
Weak Integration with CSR and ESG Frameworks
Finally, one of the most underutilized opportunities is the integration of corporate partnerships through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) frameworks.
In contrast, successful models like the Earth5R BlueCities platform demonstrate how CSR-funded projects, green jobs training, and recycling-based circular economy models can revive urban water bodies while creating local employment. Learnings from Earth5R’s Waste to Livelihood model show that river restoration can also be an economic opportunity when properly structured.
Currently, there are no scalable public-private partnerships around the Kosi River restoration, and most companies remain unaware of how they can contribute to climate action, skill development, and urban sustainability.
The Need for a Paradigm Shift
The Kosi River’s case reflects a systemic failure in both planning and execution. Restoration cannot be achieved through one-time cleanups or symbolic gestures. It requires a paradigm shift—from beautification to biodiversity, from top-down governance to community ownership, and from isolated schemes to integrated sustainability models.
What Needs to Be Done: The Blueprint for Complete River Restoration
Reviving the Kosi River requires moving beyond piecemeal interventions and adopting a comprehensive, multi-dimensional blueprint grounded in scientific evidence, local empowerment, and policy coherence. The key is not just to clean the river, but to restore its ecological, social, and economic lifelines. Below are the critical pillars of a scalable, sustainable restoration framework that can be applied not only to Kosi, but to river systems across India.
Zero Untreated Sewage: Fixing the Pollution at Its Source
The single most urgent action is to eliminate the flow of untreated sewage into the river. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a massive gap remains between sewage generated and treated in Indian cities—over 70% remains untreated.
To fix this, the government must prioritize interception and diversion mechanisms, upgrade existing STPs to meet CPCB norms, and enforce pollution compliance among municipalities and industries. Innovative models like Earth5R’s Zero Discharge Urban Model (Earth5R) demonstrate how cities can achieve zero untreated waste by integrating IoT-based monitoring systems, public dashboards, and automated pollution alerts.
Solid Waste to Circular Economy: Turning Trash into Opportunity
Kosi suffers from chronic solid waste dumping, particularly plastics, agricultural residue, and household garbage. According to a TERI study, over 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated daily in India, much of which ends up in rivers.
The way forward lies in shifting from a linear to a circular economy—where waste is not discarded, but repurposed into valuable resources. Earth5R’s Waste to Livelihood Model shows how circular economy thinking can create green jobs, reduce pollution, and improve local incomes simultaneously.
Ecological Restoration: Let the River Breathe Again
Embankments and concrete channels have transformed Kosi from a living ecosystem into a manmade flood conduit. As WWF India notes, ecological restoration must focus on reviving riparian buffers, native vegetation, and aquatic species.
One model is re-wilding degraded river stretches by introducing wetland ecosystems and creating biodiversity parks alongside the river. Earth5R’s ecological initiatives in Mumbai serve as a powerful example of how scientific riverbank restoration can also improve air quality, carbon absorption, and city aesthetics.
Community Ownership Models: Empowering River Guardians
Kosi’s restoration must include Riverkeeper Programs, Adopt-a-River schemes, and local green clubs. Earth5R’s Citizen Science Projects train youth and residents in data collection, water testing, and sustainability education—turning them into frontline environmental stewards.
A similar model could be replicated along the Kosi, especially in schools and colleges through training and environmental certification courses (UNESCO’s green education frameworks).
Transparent Real-Time Data Monitoring: Knowledge is Power
Restoration is impossible without reliable, real-time data. Yet most river basins, including the Kosi, rely on sporadic, manual testing that fails to alert communities to pollution spikes, flood threats, or illegal dumping. As per NITI Aayog’s Water Index, India’s water data infrastructure is severely underdeveloped.
The solution is to install IoT-based sensors, develop open-source dashboards, and enable mobile citizen reporting of pollution. Earth5R’s Real-Time Environmental Monitoring Platform showcases how pollution tracking and crowdsourced data can empower citizens and influence public policy.
Institutional Accountability and Integrated Governance
Finally, success demands a clear governance model that integrates urban planning, ecology, sanitation, and climate adaptation. As advocated by the Centre for Policy Research, integrated governance is key to breaking institutional silos.
Such an authority should operate with defined mandates, performance benchmarks, and public reporting protocols—drawing lessons from river authorities in Gujarat and Kerala that have shown early success. Earth5R’s BlueCities model could provide the framework, training, and digital tools for operationalizing such governance in the Kosi basin.
The Way Forward
Kosi’s revival is not a utopian dream—it is a scientific, social, and economic necessity. By combining zero sewage discharge, plastic waste management, community participation, and data-driven accountability, we can breathe life back into the river. Earth5R, with its holistic and scalable approach, is ready to lead this transformation—building a future where rivers flow clean, cities become resilient, and citizens reclaim ownership of their environment.
Earth5R BlueCities: The Proven, Scalable Solution
As urban rivers like the Kosi face complex, interlinked threats—from sewage overload to encroachment and climate vulnerability—India urgently needs a comprehensive and proven framework that delivers environmental regeneration alongside economic development and citizen empowerment. The Earth5R BlueCities Model presents exactly this blueprint, successfully piloted in Mumbai and now scalable to river systems across India, including the Kosi Basin.
Data-Driven River Health Diagnosis
Any meaningful river restoration must begin with a science-based diagnosis of the river’s health. Earth5R’s Environmental Intelligence Platform integrates IoT sensors, GIS mapping, and field data to offer a granular understanding of a river’s condition—from pollutant hotspots to biodiversity loss. Their BlueCities methodology includes a River Health Index that evaluates not just chemical indicators but also community impact metrics.
This data-first approach is critical because, as highlighted by the Global Water Partnership, fragmented and outdated water quality monitoring hampers basin-wide decision-making. Earth5R’s solution bridges that gap by offering real-time, accessible diagnostics, helping stakeholders act with precision.
Community-First Mobilization and Training
Earth5R’s core strength lies in mobilizing local communities, especially youth and women, through workshops, training programs, and environmental courses. Their Community-Led River Restoration program in Mumbai slums has proven that citizen participation can drive measurable environmental change.
Empowering citizens to act as river stewards reflects the principle that environmental sustainability begins at the grassroots—a strategy supported by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in its toolkit for inclusive urban transformation. Applying this in the Kosi region could activate thousands of local residents to monitor pollution, plant native flora, and engage in riverbank cleanups.
Ecological Restoration Based on Science
Unlike superficial beautification drives, the Earth5R BlueCities model prioritizes ecological restoration grounded in scientific rigor. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines this as the gold standard for nature-based climate adaptation.
One of Earth5R’s Mumbai projects focused on restoring a degraded urban stream into a biodiversity corridor, creating a habitat for birds, butterflies, and freshwater species. The same approach can bring back the Kosi’s once-thriving riparian ecosystems and serve as a buffer against urban flooding.
Waste-to-Recycling Circular Economy Integration
A cornerstone of BlueCities is building a circular economy where waste is reimagined as a resource. Earth5R has launched multiple Plastic Waste Management projects that recover, segregate, and recycle plastic in low-income communities, generating green jobs in the process.
This model aligns with UNEP’s circular economy guidelines and offers a solution to the Kosi’s plastic crisis. By establishing micro-recycling hubs in cities like Saharsa and Khagaria, the region can divert waste from the river while simultaneously enhancing livelihoods and urban sustainability.
Corporate, CSR, and Government Partnership Models
Sustainable river restoration cannot rely on NGOs alone. Earth5R has developed robust partnership frameworks with CSR wings of major companies, enabling public-private collaboration on green projects. Their CSR collaboration with Capgemini on Mumbai’s Mithi River saw over 10,000 employee volunteers engaged in cleanup drives, tree planting, and educational workshops.
Such partnership models are endorsed by platforms like India CSR Network as critical for scaling impact. For the Kosi, companies operating in Bihar—especially those in agro-processing, textiles, and logistics—could participate via ESG programs, employee engagement, and community workshops along the river.
Technology Platforms for Real-Time Monitoring and Citizen Engagement
Earth5R’s BlueCities uses technology not only for diagnostics but also for citizen empowerment. Through the Earth5R Mobile App, users can report pollution, track air and water quality, and join sustainability events. This mirrors the success of tools like Swachhata App and SafaiMitra, which have revolutionized citizen-driven environmental governance.
For the Kosi basin, such tech platforms can become powerful tools for real-time alerts, public engagement, and policy transparency. Combining local intelligence with smart tools ensures that restoration is not only efficient but also democratic.
Livelihood Creation Programs Linked to the Green Economy
Finally, Earth5R integrates environmental action with job creation, particularly in regions where livelihoods are fragile. Their programs offer skill development in areas like recycling, urban farming, green product making, and climate education. These align with India’s Skill India Mission, which calls for reskilling youth in sustainability-aligned trades.
In Mumbai, Earth5R’s livelihood program trained over 500 women waste pickers to become environmental educators and community waste managers . A similar initiative in the Kosi region could transform vulnerable communities into green workforce pioneers, driving both ecological restoration and inclusive economic development.
Why BlueCities Is Different
Unlike most government-led beautification projects, Earth5R’s BlueCities Model is rooted in science, people, and circularity. It is designed not for short-term optics but for long-term resilience—combining climate action, waste-to-resource innovation, and citizen ownership. For rivers like the Kosi, this model presents the most holistic and actionable framework available today.
The Urgent Choice Before Us
The current state of the Kosi River is not just an environmental concern—it is a test of our collective priorities and willpower. Once revered as a lifeline for the Indo-Gangetic plains, the river now suffers from unchecked pollution, encroachment, and hydrological mismanagement. According to a World Bank study, climate change is likely to intensify flooding in the Kosi region, compounding existing urban vulnerabilities. Without immediate and systemic intervention, the damage could soon become irreversible.
Ultimately, the restoration of the Kosi River is not about returning to the past—it’s about building a resilient and sustainable future. A future where riverbanks are clean and biodiverse, where cities are prepared for floods rather than devastated by them, and where livelihoods are generated through green jobs, not compromised by pollution.
Reports like this one from UNEP underscore how river ecosystems are at the center of climate resilience and urban sustainability. The Kosi can be this symbol of transformation—but only if we make the urgent choice to act now.
Earth5R’s BlueCities initiative is ready to guide that transformation, providing the technology, community mobilization, and scientific strategy needed to bring the Kosi—and many other rivers—back to life. The question now is not whether we have the tools. It’s whether we have the will.
Data Snapshot Box: Kosi River Indicators
To understand the scale and urgency of the Kosi River’s degradation, it is essential to ground our insights in verified environmental data. The table below presents a concise snapshot of key indicators highlighting the river’s current health status and its broader urban implications.
| Indicator | Current Status | Source |
| Sewage Treated | 32% | CPCB Report |
| BOD Level | 8–12 mg/L | Sulabh ENVIS |
| Biodiversity Loss | 40% decline in native fish species | Mongabay |
| Encroachment | 35% riverbank occupied | BSPCB |
| Groundwater Nitrate | 45+ mg/L | India Water Portal |
These figures clearly reflect the severity of ecological decline and underline the need for immediate, coordinated restoration efforts. Transparent, real-time data must drive future decision-making if Saharsa hopes to reclaim the health of the Kosi and ensure long-term urban sustainability.
Urban Sustainability Opportunities for Saharsa
The environmental crisis faced by the Kosi River is a mirror to broader urban sustainability challenges in Saharsa. Transforming the city into a resilient, green urban hub requires integrated strategies that go beyond river cleanup. Here are six interconnected domains where Saharsa can lead the way—and Earth5R’s BlueCities model is ideally designed to support this transformation.
Waste Management and Circular Economy
Saharsa produces more than 55 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, most of which is neither segregated nor treated. This waste often ends up clogging stormwater drains or dumped along the Kosi’s floodplains. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment, only a tiny fraction of waste in smaller Indian cities is scientifically processed. By integrating a circular economy approach, Saharsa can turn its waste into a resource.
Earth5R has demonstrated this through its Circular Economy Program in Mumbai, where communities are trained in waste segregation, composting, and plastic recycling. Saharsa can replicate this decentralized, citizen-led model with local adaptations.
Sustainable Mobility and Transport
The growing population and lack of efficient public transport in Saharsa have increased reliance on private vehicles and diesel rickshaws, adding to air pollution and carbon emissions. A study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) highlights how cities like Saharsa need urgent interventions in sustainable urban mobility, including dedicated cycling lanes, electric rickshaws, and improved bus networks.
Earth5R’s initiatives in eco-transport education are already being used to train students and citizens in understanding low-carbon transportation choices.
Urban Green Spaces and Biodiversity
Saharsa suffers from a severe deficit of urban green spaces, contributing to the urban heat island effect and deteriorating mental well-being. As per the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), cities should have at least 15% green cover.
In contrast, Saharsa has less than 5%. Reviving biodiversity corridors along the Kosi and creating pocket forests using the Miyawaki method can quickly restore urban greenery. Earth5R’s community-driven afforestation programs like Grow Trees with Earth5R provide scalable and inclusive models for such initiatives.
Water Conservation and Management
Saharsa receives abundant rainfall, yet much of it is lost as surface runoff. The city faces frequent groundwater shortages during summer months due to a lack of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems. A report from the India Water Portal outlines simple and cost-effective strategies for urban water management, including recharge pits and dual plumbing systems.
Earth5R’s work on community-based water audits has shown how data collection and awareness can lead to behavioral change in urban water use.
Carbon Footprint Reduction and Climate Action
With climate change accelerating the frequency of floods and heatwaves in Bihar, Saharsa needs to act fast on carbon reduction strategies. This includes switching to renewable energy, retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, and promoting low-carbon lifestyle changes.
The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) emphasizes building climate resilience in small cities through localized emission tracking and adaptive planning. Earth5R contributes to this through Carbon Mapping Workshops that train citizens and corporates in auditing and reducing their carbon footprints.
Citizen Sustainability Engagement
No sustainability effort can succeed without the full involvement of local citizens. In Saharsa, there is a pressing need to build environmental awareness and active community participation.
A report by NITI Aayog on citizen participation highlights that grassroots movements can significantly amplify sustainable development outcomes in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Earth5R’s model of Sustainability Training and Certification has empowered thousands of individuals to become eco-leaders in their localities, bridging the gap between policy and people.
By integrating river restoration with holistic urban sustainability, Saharsa can become a living model of environmental resilience. The Earth5R BlueCities initiative is uniquely positioned to guide this transformation at every step—from waste management and water conservation to green jobs and citizen engagement.
With bold action and community leadership, Saharsa can turn today’s environmental challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
–Authored By Pragna Chakraborty
