"...she had no control over the follow through… or if there would even be any."
before you go
The warm air is pushed around by cooling gusts of wind coming off of the river. The leaves rattle gently as the rapid current of the Ganges gurgles and swells. Blake picks up the fresh scent of water and sediment, the sight of hair being brushed into the air with the breeze, and the subtle taste of riverside humidity. She’s been in Haridwar for three enriching months. Tomorrow she goes to Laksar. As Blake sits by the river, she can’t help but feel unsettled. Three months wasn’t enough – the water quality still has problems. She has done her job of testing the water and addressing preliminary causes, but she knows stronger interventions are needed.
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interventions are needed.
She had been able to help solve some problems: a textile company upstream that wasn’t treating their wastewater, an electrical-equipment manufacturing plant that didn’t properly dispose of hazardous waste, and loose government regulations on river usage. However, non-point pollution sources like runoff from construction sites, agricultural areas, and roadside litter that eventually ended up near or in the river were harder to address. She had also faced pushback when she looked into pollution from more rural areas that felt slightly disconnected from the Ganges. Not to mention the socio-cultural component that she had just scratched the surface of. Of course, all of this had gone into her work report, but she had no control over the follow through… or if there would even be any.to address. She also faced pushback when she looked into pollution from more rural areas that felt slightly disconnected from the Ganges.
were harder to address. She had also faced pushback when she looked into pollution from more rural areas that felt slightly disconnected from the Ganges. Not to mention the socio-cultural component that she had just scratched the surface of. Of course, all of this had gone into her work report, but she had no control over the follow through… or if there would even be any.
Breaking her focus, a large patterned cloth comes into Blake’s view. As it drifts swiftly by, Blake jumps up and grabs it before it’s pulled toward the center of the river. It’s a beautiful piece with vibrant orange, red, white, and brown designs. She looks around to find the owner, and sees a woman rushing towards her. Blake recognizes her as the woman with the water jug from her first day in Haridwar. They lock eyes once again, and barely missing a beat, the woman thanks her for grabbing the runaway laundry and begins to turn away. Before she does, Blake interjects:
the center of the river. It’s a beautiful piece with vibrant orange, red, white, and brown designs. She looks around to find the owner, and sees a woman rushing towards her. Blake recognizes her as the woman with the water jug from her first day in Haridwar. They lock eyes once again, and barely missing a beat, the woman thanks her for grabbing the runaway laundry and begins to turn away. Before she does, Blake interjects:
“I doubt you remember me, but when I first arrived I saw you by the river.”