Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Haridwar is carrying out a large-scale cleanup after this year’s Kanwar Yatra generated around 7,000 metric tonnes of waste, including nearly 2,000 metric tonnes in the final two days alone.
Around 4.8 crore Kanwar pilgrims visited Haridwar during the festival to collect Ganga water before returning to their destinations, according to civic officials.
Given the scale of the gathering, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation deployed around 1,000 additional outsourced workers and more than 80 vehicles for sanitation, garbage collection, transportation and waste disposal.
advertisement
With the annual yatra now over, the civic body has launched a special cleanup drive across major ghats, Kanwar routes, markets and other crowded areas.
7,000 TONNES OF WASTE COLLECTED
Officials said around 7,000 metric tonnes of garbage was collected during the entire Kanwar Yatra.
Nearly 2,000 metric tonnes was collected in the last two days of the event alone.
More than 80 vehicles have been deployed to clear waste from major ghats, Kanwar routes, market areas and other public spaces.
The special post-mela sanitation drive will continue for another two days, with teams focusing on ghats, main roads, the Kanwar track, markets and other heavily used areas.
DRONES USED TO MONITOR CLEANUP
For the first time, the Municipal Corporation also used drones to monitor sanitation during the pilgrimage season.
Drone surveillance was used to track cleanliness along major Kanwar routes, crowded areas and other important locations.
The civic body also deployed sanitation volunteers at major ghats.
As part of efforts to introduce technology into waste management, solar sensor dustbins were also tested during the festival.
‘CLEANUP DOESN’T END WITH YATRA’
Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar said the scale of the pilgrimage required extensive arrangements for solid waste management.
He said additional workers, vehicles, drone monitoring, green checkpoints, sanitation volunteers and technology-based measures were used to maintain cleanliness during the annual festival.
Kumar said the end of the yatra did not mean the sanitation work was over and that the civic body would continue clearing waste generated during the pilgrimage until Haridwar’s ghats and public spaces were restored.
He also praised municipal officials, sanitation workers, outsourced staff and drivers for working through challenging conditions during the festival.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
