Abstract: India's rivers, once the cradle of civilization and culture, are today a site of deep ecological distress. While Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) advocates for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030, India’s river systems tell a different story: of drying channels, vanishing ecological flows, rampant pollution, and unaccountable dam-building practices. The hydropower projects in Uttarakhand have led to an inadequate water flow in the rivers which makes it difficult for people to even release into the rivers the remains of their loved ones who have died. This article investigates the state of India's rivers through the lens of expert reflections on environmental governance, urban riverfront planning, dam decommissioning, and groundwater dependence. Findings indicate a fragmented governance structure, a lack of credible data, and misplaced policy priorities. However, solutions such as a national river policy, aquifer-level groundwater governance, transparent data institutions, and the scientific re-evaluation of existing dams offer hope. Achieving SDG 6 requires more than compliance; it requires a paradigm shift in how India views, values, and manages its rivers.