UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Bridging global knowledge and local action: Urban river restoration in India- Lessons from global river restoration projects

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.22438/jeb/47/2(si)/si-03

Authors

Madhura Manish Bedarkar · Komal Uday Dhiwar

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.949169+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.949169+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Symbiosis International University

Reported affiliation countries

IN

Documentary abstract — original language

Rivers worldwide play a crucial role in supplying freshwater, regulating local climates, conserving biodiversity, and supporting the agriculture and economic growth of nations. However, rivers across the world are threatened by increasing pollution, climate change and excessive water extraction. In 2022, the Central Pollution Control Board of India declared that more than 50% of India's 605 rivers were polluted. Since urban rivers are more vulnerable to pollution, this study focuses on restoring a severely polluted urban river in India, the Mula-Mutha River flowing through Pune, Maharashtra, India. To develop restoration strategies for Mula-Mutha, this study examined river restoration efforts across the globe. Based on the literature review, we identified river restoration initiatives for 25 rivers across the world, and collected and analysed information regarding the stressors, objectives, interventions (both passive and active), outcomes, and distinctive features of each restoration initiative. Based on the analysis, this study suggests five restoration strategies for rivers Mula-Mutha including: adopting a mixed-use planning approach for river restoration, accepting river restoration as a multi-year, continuous process, freeing the flood plains, political support for river restoration projects and involving communities in planning and implementation of restoration projects. Key words:Mula-Mutha River, River restoration, Riverine pollution, Urban river

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W7160119136

DOI

10.22438/jeb/47/2(si)/si-03

Documentary context

Documentary family

Scholarship

Source-reported types

article

Jurisdictions studied — explicit sources

IN

Natural entities mentioned

River

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/47/2(si)/si-03
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7160119136

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.