By Arun Pratap Singh
Haridwar, 25 Jul: The Kanwar Mela in Haridwar, which commenced on 11 July and concluded successfully on 23 July, saw an unprecedented turnout of approximately 4.5 crore devotees who arrived to collect Ganga water which they carried back to Shiva temples near their houses for Jal Abhishek. While this figure has brought satisfaction to both the government and the Haridwar district administration, it has simultaneously presented a formidable challenge for the district administration and Haridwar Municipal Corporation. With the conclusion of the Kanwar Mela, Haridwar now grapples with a massive accumulation of garbage, stretching from the Ganga ghats to the National Highway, as millions of devotees have left behind several thousand metric tonnes of waste across the city. A special drive is underway to clean the garbage and dispose of it properly.
Following the successful culmination of the Kanwar Mela, Haridwar is now confronted with massive garbage left by the Shiva devotees, resulting in mounds of garbage from the Ganga ghats to the Kanwar Patli Road. The administration has admitted that over 4.5 crore Shiva devotees visited Haridwar for the pilgrimage, leaving behind widespread litter across Har Ki Pauri, other ghats, and even the streets of the city and the highway, which poses a considerable challenge for the municipal corporation to clear.
In an informal chat with some media persons, Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar shared that the municipal corporation had deployed over a thousand additional workers, alongside its regular staff, to ensure a clean environment during and after the Kanwar Mela. These teams have been working day and night to clear the waste. Kumar stated that roughly 7,000 metric tonnes of garbage has been left behind in Haridwar by the approximately 4.5 crore Kanwariyas who came to collect Ganga water, and efforts are underway to clear it by Saturday evening.
Kumar further stated that the municipal corporation had employed drones to monitor waste accumulation, which proved highly beneficial. He noted that ground-level inspections sometimes miss the full extent of waste, whereas a top-down view from drones provides a clearer picture of scattered litter, thus proving to be very advantageous. The Municipal Commissioner highlighted that, this year, besides polythene, Shiva devotees also left behind clothes and shoes. In response, the municipal corporation will launch a special drive to raise awareness among devotees visiting Haridwar and will take action against large contractors involved in selling such polythene.
Kumar announced that a special cleanliness drive will be conducted across Haridwar city on Saturday. This initiative will also involve the Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority, along with various social organisations and general citizens of Haridwar, to ensure a comprehensive clean-up effort.
