Here is a brief and clear summary of how major Indian cities can recharge groundwater and revive rivers:

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✅ How to Recharge Groundwater in Cities (Brief)

1. Rainwater Harvesting Everywhere

• Make rooftop systems mandatory in all buildings.
• Create recharge pits, percolation tanks, and soak wells to let rainwater seep underground.

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2. Restore Lakes, Tanks & Wetlands

• Remove encroachments and desilt lakes.
• Connect lakes in a chain system so excess water flows from one to another.

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3. Protect & Revive Natural Drainage (Nalas)

• Stop concretizing stormwater drains.
• Allow water to infiltrate instead of rushing away.

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4. Increase Urban Green Cover

• Urban forests, parks, green belts, roadside plantations.
• Soil absorbs more rain → increases recharge.

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5. Use Treated Wastewater for Non-Drinking Use

• Industries, gardens, and construction use treated water →
  Saves fresh groundwater for drinking.

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6. Limit Over-Extraction

• Smart meters for borewells.
• Ban illegal borewells and regulate groundwater use.

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✅ How to Revive Rivers in Cities (Brief)

1. Stop Sewage Discharge

• 100% sewage treatment before entering rivers.

2. Reconnect Floodplains

• Remove encroachments, restore natural width of rivers.

3. Recharge Groundwater (Supports River Baseflow)

• More groundwater → natural water flows back into rivers during dry season.

4. Clean & Restore Tributaries

• Small streams (nalas) feeding rivers must be restored first.

5. Eco-Friendly Riverfront Development

• Use natural vegetation, not concrete embankments.

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⭐ In One Line

Recharge groundwater by capturing rain where it falls, restoring lakes & soil.
Revive rivers by stopping pollution, restoring floodplains, and improving groundwater levels.