By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 11 Nov: With preparations for Kumbh 2027 gathering pace in Haridwar, authorities are set to introduce a specialised waste-management system on the Ganga to prevent solid waste from polluting the river during the religious event, which is expected to draw lakhs of seers, pilgrims and devotees. A Trash Boom Interceptor will be installed on the river as part of efforts to tackle the large quantity of waste generated during major religious gatherings.
According to the district administration, more than 100 metric tonnes of waste were removed from the Ganga during the 18-day closure of the Ganga canal earlier this year. With the forthcoming Kumbh expected to witness a massive influx of pilgrims taking holy dips in the river, officials anticipate the accumulation of clothes, ritual offerings, plastic and other forms of solid waste. To prevent such waste from spreading through the river system, the administration has decided to deploy the interceptor technology for the first time in the Ganga in Uttarakhand.
The technology is already being used in hydropower projects in the state to prevent waste from entering tunnels. Under the proposed arrangement, a floating barrier will be installed across the river channel to intercept waste carried by the water. The system is designed to divert floating waste towards one side of the river, from where it can be collected and transferred for disposal through a conveyor-based mechanism. Officials said the arrangement is proposed at Amarapur Ghat and Jatwara Ghat and is intended to function as a permanent installation.
Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar said the tender process for installation of the Trash Boom Interceptor has already been initiated and the system is expected to become operational before Kumbh 2027. He explained that the interceptor acts as a floating barrier capable of trapping flowers, clothes, plastic and other solid waste thrown into the river, helping prevent such material from moving downstream and causing pollution.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to maintain the cleanliness of the Ganga in Haridwar. Earlier this year, a special cleanliness campaign along the riverbanks witnessed participation from 32 organisations and more than 13,000 volunteers. The waste collected during the campaign was handed over to the Haridwar Municipal Corporation for proper processing, recycling and disposal.
The district administration has also appealed to devotees and residents not to throw old clothes, puja materials or other waste into the river. Instead, people have been urged to deposit such items at designated collection points to help preserve the cleanliness and sanctity of the Ganga during the forthcoming Kumbh and beyond.
