For nearly a decade, Pandit Jeevraj Shrimali has worked to protect Jodhpur’s neglected water bodies, combining religious awareness with environmental conservation. His efforts have focused on reducing the amount of devotional waste entering ponds, encouraging cleaner practices and involving local communities in keeping water sources clean.
Shrimali’s work is particularly associated with Guruo Ka Talab, an old water body located near the Rokadiya Balaji Temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Over the years, the pond had become increasingly polluted by discarded pooja materials, idols, flowers, plastic, cloth and other waste associated with religious practices.
Rather than viewing religion and environmental protection as separate concerns, Shrimali has attempted to address the problem from within the community.
When Religious Waste Became An Environmental Problem
Religious offerings are often disposed of in or around water bodies across India. While such practices may be rooted in tradition, materials such as plastic, synthetic cloth, decorative items and Plaster of Paris idols can contribute to pollution.
At Guruo Ka Talab, Shrimali began working around 2016, according to reports. He encouraged devotees not to throw religious materials into the pond and instead helped establish ways to collect them separately.
His approach was not limited to asking people to change their behaviour. He also tried to provide practical alternatives.
Separate containers were used to collect different kinds of devotional waste. According to an ETV Bharat report, devotees were encouraged to place materials such as flowers and coconuts into designated containers rather than leaving them in the water. The initiative also involved working with civic authorities to clean the area and discourage further dumping.
Turning Waste Into A Resource
Shrimali’s work has extended beyond collection. Some discarded religious materials are reused or sent for recycling. A Times of India report said old pooja chunris and cloth carrying religious imagery have been converted into small bags, which are sold for a nominal amount and help support his environmental activities.
Other discarded religious pictures and paper-based materials have also reportedly been directed towards recycling rather than being left around the pond.
The idea is relatively simple: devotional objects can be handled respectfully without necessarily becoming environmental waste.
Shrimali has also spoken against the widespread use of everyday products carrying images of deities when those products eventually become difficult to dispose of. His argument is that religious sentiment should be accompanied by responsibility towards the environment.
Taking The Issue To Court
His involvement with Guruo Ka Talab has also extended into legal action. In 2018, Jeevraj Shrimali and other petitioners approached the Rajasthan High Court through a Public Interest Litigation concerning pollution of the pond. The petition raised concerns about activities including idol immersion and the dumping of materials such as glitter, clothes, coconut shells, bamboo, plastic and Plaster of Paris.
The petition also raised concerns about bathing with soap and washing clothes in the pond. In May 2019, the Rajasthan High Court disposed of the matter after municipal authorities reported steps taken to clean the pond and prevent activities contributing to its pollution.
The legal record demonstrates that Shrimali’s involvement with the issue was not limited to occasional clean-up drives. He was also seeking institutional measures to protect the water body.
A subsequent 2023 court proceeding involving Shrimali addressed concerns around drainage and soak pits affecting the pond and its surrounding land, indicating his continued involvement in protecting Guruo Ka Talab.
From One Pond To A Wider Conservation Effort
Recent accounts describe Shrimali as having spent around 10 years working to revive five neglected ponds in Jodhpur.
His reported efforts include removing accumulated waste, encouraging waste segregation, promoting recycling and working to improve the surroundings of local water bodies. Reports have also highlighted tree planting and other conservation activities associated with his broader campaign.
However, while the five-pond and decade-long figures have been reported in recent coverage, the exact figures of 5+ tonnes of waste removed and 350+ trees planted are not independently established across the sources reviewed. Those numbers should therefore be attributed to the relevant reports rather than presented as independently verified figures.
The broader objective remains consistent: prevent ponds from becoming dumping grounds again after they have been cleaned.
Recognition For A Decade Of Work
Shrimali’s environmental work received further recognition in August 2026, when he was honoured with the Veer Durgadas Rathore Samman.
The award recognised contributions involving religious practices, environmental conservation and the cleaning of natural water sources. The recognition came after years of work that connected religious spaces, civic responsibility and environmental protection.
His work has also reportedly earned recognition from the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, with Shrimali being associated with the civic body as a brand ambassador for cleanliness and environmental awareness.
A Different Kind Of Environmentalism
What makes Shrimali’s work notable is the way it approaches conservation through everyday religious behaviour.
Instead of treating pollution as only a municipal problem, his campaign asks communities to examine what happens to religious materials after rituals are completed. His work suggests that cleaner water bodies depend not only on government intervention, but also on changes in public habits.
Restoring a pond is only the first step. Preventing waste from returning requires continued collection systems, responsible disposal, civic support and community participation.
After nearly a decade, Shrimali’s efforts offer a straightforward lesson: environmental conservation does not always begin with a large organisation or expensive programme. Sometimes, it begins with an individual working consistently within their own community and continuing even after the immediate attention has moved elsewhere.
The Logical Indian Perspective
Pandit Jeevraj Shrimali’s decade-long effort to revive Jodhpur’s polluted ponds highlights how environmental conservation can begin within communities. By encouraging cleaner religious practices and responsible waste disposal, his work shows that protecting nature can become part of everyday civic and spiritual responsibility.
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