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{{Short description|River in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Arvari River
| image = Arvari_River.jpg
| image_caption = Arvari River at Hamirpur village
| source1 = Sakra Dam near Thanagazi in [[Alwar district|Alwar District]], [[Rajasthan]]
| mouth = Confluence with [[Yamuna]] in [[Mainpuri district]] of Uttar Pradesh
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = India
| length = 45 km (28 mi)
| basin_size = 492 km2 (190 mi2)
| source1_coordinates =
| custom_label = Notable Features
| custom_data = Flow restoration after 60 years, Arvari Parliament formation
}}
The '''Arvari River''', which originates in [[Aravalli Range|Aravalli]] range, is a small [[river]] flowing through the [[Alwar District]] of [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. It has a total length of {{cvt|45|km|mi}} and a total basin area of {{cvt|492|km2}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=6. Technical Report for A CUSTOMIZED GIS APPLICATION SOFTWARE For ARVARI WATERSHED YEAR 2008|publisher=Tarun Bharat Sangh, Bhikampura, Alwar, Rajasthan|year=2008}}</ref> Downstream of the Sainthal Sagar dam on Arvari, the Arvari river meets Sarsa River to become the Sanwan River. The Sanwan meets the Tildah and [[Banganga River (Rajasthan)|Banganga]] rivers to converge with the [[Gambhir River (Rajasthan)|Gambhir]] (also known as the Utang river). Gambhir then converges with the [[Yamuna]] in [[Mainpuri district]] of Uttar Pradesh, Yamuna converges with [[Ganges]] at [[Triveni Sangam]] in [[Prayagraj]].<ref name=rr1>{{Cite book|title=Arvari Sansad|last=Tiwari|first=Arun|publisher=Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS)|year=2006}}</ref><ref name=rr2>{{Cite book|title=Sikhti Sikhati Arvari Nadi|last=Singh|first=Rajendra|publisher=TBS|year=2014}}</ref><ref name=rr3>{{Cite book|title=STORY OF RIVULET ARVARI (From DEATH TO REBIRTH)|last=Patel|first=Jashbhai|publisher=TBS|year=1997}}</ref>

It is notable for having its flow restored after being dry for 60 years. This process began in 1986, and required the efforts of the people of the Bhanota-Kolyala village, with the help of Dr. [[Rajendra Singh (environmentalist)|Rajendra Singh]]. The villages that lay in the river's [[Drainage basin|catchment area]] built earthen dams, with largest being 244 m long and 7 m wide. Following the construction of 375 dams, the river started to flow again, becoming a [[Perennial stream|perennial]] river in 1995.<ref name="hindcharles" /> The Arvari River Parliament was formed in 1998 to help maintain the health of the river.

== Basin ==

Key features are as follows:
* Total basin area: 492 km2
* Total Length of flowing river: 45 km
* Length of river: 35 km
* Total water structures: 402 <ref name=":0" />

=== Origin===

The river Arvari originates in the Sakra Dam near Thanagazi in the [[Alwar district|Alwar District]]. The northern catchment area of the river is around Kankad ki dhani. Of the two sources of the river, one source originates from Bhairudev Public Wildlife Sanctuary near the village Bhavta Kaliyal (Bhuriyawas), the other near Amka and Jodhula. There is a third stream close to second source, which is lost into the ground. The two streams meet near Ajabgarh- Pratapgarh, at Palasana ka Pahad. From this point, the river is called Arvari and runs down to the village Hamirpur to meet Nahar Nala, a stream from the west.<ref>{{Cite book|title=1. Seekhti Sikhati Arvari Nadi|last=Singh|first=Rajendra|publisher=Tarun Bharat Sangh|date=May 2014}}</ref>

===Drainage ===
[[File:Arvari_River.jpg|thumb|Arvari River at Hamirpur village]]
Another tributary, the Bidila river, originates in Jamwa Ramgargh, Jaipur, and augments the Arvari. The augmented river joins an equally large tributary originating around Lothabas in the west near Romewala, then passing through the Jaitpur Gujrun, Rasayawala and Rayanwala regions. Here, the Aravari becomes large enough to feed its own reservoir, Sainthal Sagar, which was formed by a large dam on the same river. Following the dam, the Arvari river meets Sarsa to become the Sanwan River. The Sanwan meets the Tildah and [[Banganga River (Rajasthan)|Banganga]] to join the Gambhir, also known as the Utang river. Gambhir then meets the Yamuna near Prayaraj in [[Allahabad]].<ref name=rr1/><ref name=rr2/><ref name=rr3/>

== Conservation ==

=== Arvari Sansad (Arvari Parliament) ===

Following the rebirth of the Arvari river in 1996, led by community efforts, the issue of Arvari's ownership remained. The Government of Rajasthan's claim over the river, was heavily opposed by locals who had worked for years to restore the waterway. The state government awarded contracts for fishing in the Arvari river without the knowledge of the people of different villages residing on the bank of the river, which affected the lives and livelihoods of residents, giving rise to protests and non-cooperation.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The state government then filed a case against the local community of the Arvari basin upon the issue of ownership. The high court passed judgement stating that the state government would maintain ownership of the river until a designated system was established by the people, resulting in people from 72 villages coming forward to form the Arvari Parliament. The main purpose of the Arvari Parliament is to monitor and care for the water bodies of the Arvari River, and plan the usage of water and related issues to ensure the sustainability of the river. Owing to successful water harvesting methods, the Arvari river has become a perennial river from a seasonal water body.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT: CHECK DAMS IN STATE OF GUJARAT (INDIA)|url=http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/wh/docs/Singh.doc|access-date=2008-02-12|work=Man mohan singh|format=MS word doc}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FROM THE DIALECTIC TO THE DIALOGIC: GENERATIVE ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION – A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY IN INDIA|url=http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/send-pdf.cgi?acc_num=case1145044613|access-date=2008-02-12|work=Latha Poonamallee, Pg54|format=PDF}}</ref>

Through the community centre's water management approach, on 26 January 1999, 162 members from the Arvari basin formed the Arvari Parliament. The parliament meets biannually, the meetings six months apart. The first session of the Arvari Parliament was held in Hamirpur village from 27 to 28 January 1999, under the chairmanship of Shri. Siddharaj Dadhadha. The 36th session took place on 23 December 2018 at Tarun Bharat Sangh, Bheekampura, Alwar district, Rajasthan, under the chairmanship of Shri. Ram Pratap Meena.<ref>{{cite web|title=RWH|url=http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/Bhaonta-Kolyala.htm|access-date=2008-02-12}}</ref>

The members of the Arvari Parliament were awarded for the community work of River Rejuvenation by the contemporary President of India, Shri. K. R. Narayanan, on 28 March 2000. This was the first time in the history of India where the President officially recognized a community for such work, rather than the Rastrapati Bhavan. On 3 November 2003, [[Prince Charles]] visited the Arvari River basin to recognize the work of the community and was escorted by Dr. Rajendra Singh and members of the local community.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

'''A sub-branch to the Parliament, the Arvari River Child Parliament''' was formed on 20 August 2013 with the aim of providing education on responsible water management to the next generation residents in the Arvari river basin.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

=== Rejuvenation of Arvari River ===

In 1985, a drought in the region dried the river bed, and the river was lost. The TBS, along with the local community, started work for water on the river basin of Arvari in 1987 to restore the river. As a result of this, in 1996, the Arvari river started flowing throughout the year.<ref name=":1" />

The river was awarded the International River Prize in 2004. In March 2000, then President, [[K. R. Narayanan]], visited the area to present the "[[Down To Earth (magazine)|Down to Earth]] — Joseph. C. John Award" to the villagers. [[Rajendra Singh (environmentalist)|Dr. Rajendra Singh]] was awarded the [[Magsaysay Award]] in 2001.<ref name=hindcharles>{{cite news |title=Charles lauds the 'water warriors' |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/03/stories/2003110304091200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031117155820/http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/03/stories/2003110304091200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 November 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 November 2003 }}</ref><ref name=front>{{cite web |title=The water man of Rajasthan |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1817/18170810.htm |date=18–31 August 2001 |publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]], Volume 18 - Issue 17 }}</ref><ref name=bio>{{cite web |title=Biography of Rajendra Singh |url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/pdfbio/RajendraSingh.pdf |year=2001 |publisher=[[Magsaysay Award]] website |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915160745/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/pdfbio/RajendraSingh.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Sahibi River]]
* [[List of rivers of Rajasthan]]
* [[List of rivers of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Subhajyoti Das|first=R. H. Sawkar|title=Geological Society of India, Bangalore 2016|journal=Integrated and Sustainable Water Management: Science and Technology|pages=14, 15, 16}}
*Syed Hasnat, "Arvari Sansad: The Farmers’ Parliament". ''LEISA Magazine'', December 2005.

{{Refend}}{{Hydrography of Rajasthan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|Rajasthan}}

[[Category:Rivers of Rajasthan]]

Arvari River - Revision history

BethIlf498848137 at 04:40, 26 August 2025