Ramveer Tanwar, popularly known as Pondman of India, was born in Dadha village in Greater Noida. First-generation learners, they grew up herding cattle and shared a deep connection with the village ponds.
By the time he reached age, Tanwar graduated from Mechanical Engineering and landed a well-paying job in a multinational company. However, he had a different path to follow. The perks of a lucrative job didn’t sway him. Instead, he was driven by a passion to contribute to a more environmentally friendly world.
He observed that water crisis is a problem in cities across the country which is expected to become more serious in the coming years.
According to United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: Partnerships and Cooperation for WaterReleased in March this year, India is expected to face acute water scarcity by 2050.
To deal with this crisis, 30-year-old Tanwar took the lead. He quit his white-collar job and devoted more than five years to working on this important issue. Along with a group of dedicated individuals, he started cleaning and rehabilitating ponds in urban villages of Greater Noida. Thanks to their tireless efforts, today they are known as ‘Ponds of India’.
“As our forefathers gave us a beautiful source of water, it is our responsibility to pass it on to the next generation,” expressed Ramveer..
“We started this mission in 2016 and have successfully cleaned 80 ponds in six Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. Two of them are in Gujarat and one is in Dasna area of Ghaziabad.

A noted environmentalist and TEDx speaker, Tanwar has been passionate about water conservation since his student days.
He started the ‘Jal Chopal’ campaign in Gautam Budhnagar, Uttar Pradesh, encouraging people to conserve water and protect natural resources such as ponds, lakes and wetlands.
When asked about his journey, Tanwar said, “It was not an accidental program. We started with an awareness campaign focusing on cleanliness in the village and gradually focused on pond rehabilitation because They were neglected and polluted.”
After quitting his engineering job in 2018, Tanwar dedicated himself to pond cleaning and is now the founder of Say Earth NGO. The organization actively works on watershed restoration, urban forestry and environmental awareness issues.
Tanwar received training from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF) and Government of India.
“I was working for a multinational company, and during my weekends, I would devote my time to cleanup efforts. However, one task and this mission proved challenging, so I quit my job two years later. Quit the job and committed myself fully to the restoration of the pond. Today, we have a team of 17 volunteers, supported by civil society, gram panchayats, and the general public through social media and WhatsApp groups. .
In particular, both individuals and large companies now contribute funds to clean ponds. For example, the cleaning of the pond in Dasna area of Ghaziabad is funded by HDFC Bank.
In recognition of his remarkable work, Tanwar has been named the Brand Ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission in Ghaziabad and has been appointed as the District Coordinator of the Bhojal Sena (Ground Water Force) by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Explaining the cleaning process, he said, “We use machines and labor to collect waste from the ponds and dispose of it at designated landfill sites. We also need government permission for this. Pond cleaning. The cost varies from 5 lakhs to 50 lakhs depending on the size of the pond.We also plant trees around the pond.
The Tanwar campaign has also created employment opportunities for local people.
“After the cleaning process, we let the pond rest for about two years and then hand it over to the gram panchayat committee or people interested in fishing, lotus cultivation, or chestnut cultivation in the pond. “
Many reputed institutes and institutes including IITs and IIMs invite Tanwar to deliver lectures and seminars for the education of students. He has been a keynote speaker at TEDX Speaker 2019, IIT (BHU), JNU, Central University Pondicherry, IISER Kolkata, Amity University, Infosys Gurgaon, Manage Hyderabad, Zeiss Delhi, and others. Serve as He also traveled to Japan to learn advanced techniques for pond cleaning.
When asked about his livelihood after quitting his job, Tanwar explained, “Initially, I offered tuition for a year, but when universities invited me to lecture on their campaign, I stopped giving tuition. They provided remuneration. Additionally, I worked as a consultant to an NGO, which became a source of income. IIT Roorkee, IIM Rishikesh and others gave me lectures. Invited to give.
Tanwar has received international recognition for his work, including the Shining World Protection Award from Taiwan with a US$10,000 grant and the Rex Karamveer Chakra Award established by iCONGO and the United Nations (UN). He has also been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Man Ki Baat and twice honored by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Reflecting on his journey, Tanwar said, “I am very happy with this work. I have received numerous awards and recognitions from both the state and central governments.
When asked about the impact of his mission on society, particularly in promoting sanitation and hygiene, he replied, “Although there is no specific parameter to measure its impact, many Young people are stepping up to join the cause and join the clean-up efforts.”