Arun Krishnamurthy: How Environmentalist Foundation of India is Reviving Our Forgotten Waters

While many dream of changing the world from air-conditioned boardrooms, one ex-Google employee chose to wade through mud instead. Meet Arun Krishnamurthy, whose Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) is transforming India's water crisis one lake at a time—proving that environmental action doesn't always need government budgets or corporate sponsorships, just determined hands willing to get dirty.

Founded in 2011, the Environmentalist Foundation of India began with a simple yet radical idea: what if citizens took ownership of their neglected water bodies? What started as weekend cleanups in Chennai has expanded into a scientific ecological restoration movement spanning 17 states and reviving over 200 water bodies across the country.

What makes the Environmentalist Foundation of India's approach unique is its perfect blend of grassroots volunteerism with scientific methodology. Unlike traditional cleanup drives that focus only on removing visible waste, EFI conducts comprehensive restoration—removing invasive species, creating natural filtration systems, rebuilding shorelines, and establishing native plant communities that sustain local biodiversity.

Perhaps most fascinating is how the Environmentalist Foundation of India has transformed environmental conservation from a distant concept into a community ritual. Their "Lake as Classroom" initiative turns restoration sites into living laboratories where students learn applied ecology. Local residents who once viewed nearby ponds as dumping grounds now patrol them as guardians, understanding their critical role in groundwater recharge and flood prevention.

The organization has developed a replicable model that works across diverse geographies—from Chennai's urban lakes to Hyderabad's historic water tanks to the village ponds of rural India. This scalability has earned them partnerships with corporations seeking meaningful CSR initiatives and recognition from international environmental bodies.

As climate change intensifies India's water insecurity, the work of Environmentalist Foundation of India demonstrates a powerful truth: ecological restoration isn't just about saving nature—it's about building community resilience from the ground up. In Arun's words, "When you restore a lake, you're not just saving water; you're reviving an entire ecosystem that supports livelihoods, culture, and future generations."

For young professionals and students looking to make real impact, EFI's journey offers an inspiring blueprint of how passion, science, and community mobilization can create lasting environmental change—no matter how murky the waters may seem.