Who Is Waterkeeper: Dr Venkatesh Dutta, Gomti River Waterkeeper

June 18, 2025

Dr Venkatesh Dutta is the Gomti River Waterkeeper in India. He grew up surrounded by water, specifically the many ponds that dotted his hometown. Some of his earliest memories are centered around water. He would search for turtles and frogs, let the monsoon rain joyfully wash over him, and observe the destructive forces of flooding. Venkatesh credits this deep and personal connection with water – its beauty, generosity, and fury – for inspiring him toward its protection.

However, while he was growing up, environmental studies was not necessarily in the mainstream. That all changed for Venkatesh when he began studying at the University of Delhi. He became greatly inspired by his teachers there who taught him that bodies of water were living and interconnected ecosystems. He also learned about the power of change agents, and the incredible impact that one person can have in bringing about positive change. He knew it was something he wanted to pursue.

“Everyone was seeing the river as real estate, as something where you could make profit. So I decided to be a spokesperson, someone who could be a voice for the river,” says Venkatesh. “I decided to become a Waterkeeper because I couldn’t stay quiet. It was a genuine calling.”

The Gomti River is nearly 960 kilometers long and serves as a major tributary of the national river Ganga, feeding the largest freshwater delta in the world. The Gomti is unique in that it receives no snowmelt, but is instead entirely composed of groundwater and fed by springs. The economy of the Gomti basin is predominantly dependent on agriculture, accounting for more than 75% of the area’s employment. According to Hindu mythology, the river is the daughter of Sage Vashist, and bathing in the Gomti River on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the Sanatana Dharma-Hindu calendar, can wash away one’s sins.

“This river is very special to me,” says Venkatesh.”I am located directly in the center of its catchment.”

Venkatesh has been the Gomti River Waterkeeper since 2016. In that time he has observed many causes for concern. To begin with, the river is marginalized or squeezed. Developers grab up the land on either side of the waterbody without any concern for the natural floodplain. This comes into sharp focus during monsoon season when the river can swell to many times its normal size. Venkatesh asserts that setting aside at least 100 meters on either of the river will help recharge the aquifers and avoid catastrophic flooding. He fought for the floodplains and his efforts finally led to the declaration of a 100 meter floodplain on both sides of the river Gomti  in official records on 5th September 2023.

Sewage treatment is another problem. For as long as Venkatesh can remember, sewage was always seen as a priority to be dealt with later. It was important, in theory, but always came second to housing, electricity, and infrastructure. Many towns near the Gomti would simply connect their sewage directly to the river. Not surprisingly, these actions had an adverse effect on human health and wildlife. In his role, Venkatesh helps ensure sewage treatment plant operators know they are being watched—that the untreated waste they quietly discharge into rivers does not go unnoticed or undocumented.

“I follow a model of pragmatism and constructive criticism. We don’t want to just point out the problems, we want to solve them too,” says Venkatesh. “We want to change this world and leave rivers swimmable, drinkable and fishable.”

One significant way Venkatesh is helping the river is to properly survey it. For years, nobody could agree on the actual length of it. So Venkatesh, along with about two dozen others, led a tour of the river. For over a week, they walked alongside the Gomti, from its origin to its confluence with the Ganges. They used a five-step guide to determine the health of different sections of the river:  did the river section still have vegetation on its banks, was it navigable, did wildlife and aquatic animals such as turtles and fish exist there, were villages alongside the river modeled as eco-villages, and were villagers especially women using the river’s water in their home.  One other method was to rely on a dog’s particularly strong olfactory senses. If a dog wouldn’t drink from a section of the river, Venkatesh knew there was a problem there and the river was not in good health.

Another outcome of the expedition was to name and identify all the tributaries that feed the Gomti. In some places, these waterbodies were referred to simply as ‘drain 14’ or ‘drain 16.’ But, thanks to Venkatesh’s efforts, these streams are now all named and identified in land revenue records, and hopefully, more likely to be cared for and protected.

“We are trying to bring glory back to these rivers, and bring sanctity back to these streams,” says Venkatesh. “Every river is important, and we hope to replicate this model to other catchments.”

Venkatesh also writes a monthly column called Living Rivers. He jokes that he sometimes lets out his frustration with his pen. However, in spite of any frustrations or challenges, he perseveres in his work defending water. Whenever he gets discouraged, he reminds himself of  why he began this work. He thinks of the ponds of his childhood that vanished under concrete, of the turtles that once basked on muddy banks, of the boat rides with his father during floods, of communities who still depend on these waters—not just for survival, but for identity.

He also thinks of his fellow Waterkeepers.

“The beauty of the Waterkeeper movement is learning that other people are facing the same situations. The rivers have given me memories, meaning, and a mission. Restoration is not just of rivers—it is of relationships with the land, with water, and with each other,” says Venkatesh. “People are dealing with pollution and land grabs. We are not alone. It leaves me with a feeling of peace and strength to be a part of this community.”