How Captain DC Sekhar’s fuel-free river barrier is revolutionizing India’s fight against water pollution
After sailing the high seas for 26 years as a Merchant Navy officer, Captain DC Sekhar returned to India with a mission not related to trade or ships—but to the environment. Disturbed by the amount of plastic waste choking India’s rivers and ending up in the oceans, he decided to take action in the most innovative way possible. What followed was not just a campaign—it was a technological breakthrough.
Captain Sekhar designed a simple yet powerful floating barrier system to trap river waste before it could flow into the sea. His system uses no electricity, no fuel, and works entirely with natural river currents, making it not only sustainable but also extremely low-cost.
How the Invention Works
The barrier is installed diagonally across rivers, allowing water to pass through while redirecting floating debris, plastic, and even large branches toward collection points on the banks. It’s based on a deep understanding of fluid dynamics and marine engineering—skills Sekhar picked up during his decades of naval service
Unlike many imported river cleanup systems that cost a fortune and require complex machinery or manpower, Sekhar’s invention is 30 times cheaper and far more sustainable. This cost-effectiveness is one of the reasons why various state governments, municipal corporations, and even defense forces are taking serious interest in the technology.
Real Impact, Real Numbers
So far, his innovation has prevented over 1 lakh tonnes of plastic and trash from reaching the oceans. In Chennai alone, the barriers installed in the Cooum and Adyar rivers have already helped collect over 20,000 tonnes of waste.
But Sekhar’s work doesn’t stop there. In Goa, one of the largest projects is currently underway where similar barriers will be placed across all rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea. He is also developing advanced versions to handle pollution directly in coastal and marine waters.
A Vision for India—and the World
Captain Sekhar’s story is proof that homegrown, scalable environmental solutions can come from India—and succeed globally. His invention is a remarkable blend of simplicity, sustainability, and science, setting an example for grassroots innovation across the globe.
“I want to show the world that we don’t always need complex or imported solutions to solve our problems,” he sayso. “Sometimes, the best answers lie in using what nature gives us—wisely.”
With each river barrier installed, Captain Sekhar is not just cleaning water—he’s restoring hope in Indian innovation and inspiring a new generation of changemakers to dream big, start small, and act now.