Over 7,000 metric tonnes waste dumped in Haridwar during Kanwar Yatra
The annual pilgrimage of devotees of Lord Shiva, Kanwar Yatra, has concluded and left behind over 7,000 metric tonnes of waste in 15 days in Haridwar, according to reports.Held during the Hindu month of Shravan (July–August), millions of pilgrims, mostly clad in saffron, journey on foot to collect holy water from the Ganga River, typically from places like Haridwar, Gaumukh, or Gangotri and carry it across hundreds of kilometres to offer at Shiva temples in their hometowns, especially at Jyotirlingas.This year, Haridwar witnessed an overwhelming influx of 4.5 crore kanwariyas during the Kanwar Yatra. While the annual pilgrimage holds immense religious significance, it also brings with it a host of civic challenges. Residents and environmentalists have raised serious concerns about the sheer scale of waste, including plastic, solid, and even faecal waste that has accumulated on the streets. The situation has reportedly become so dire in certain areas that locals find it difficult to even step outside their homes, highlighting the urgent need for better crowd and waste management during the yatra.Despite the deployment of around 1,000 sanitation workers and drone surveillance by the Haridwar city authorities, the waste accumulated was higher than last year, as per reports.Haridwar Municipal Corporation has estimated that the total waste generated during the two-week-long mela could be between 30,000 and 35,000 metric tonnes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gujarat Samachar English (@gujaratsamacharenglish)
The annual pilgrimage of devotees of Lord Shiva, Kanwar Yatra, has concluded and left behind over 7,000 metric tonnes of waste in 15 days in Haridwar, according to reports.
Held during the Hindu month of Shravan (July–August), millions of pilgrims, mostly clad in saffron, journey on foot to collect holy water from the Ganga River, typically from places like Haridwar, Gaumukh, or Gangotri and carry it across hundreds of kilometres to offer at Shiva temples in their hometowns, especially at Jyotirlingas.
This year, Haridwar witnessed an overwhelming influx of 4.5 crore kanwariyas during the Kanwar Yatra. While the annual pilgrimage holds immense religious significance, it also brings with it a host of civic challenges. Residents and environmentalists have raised serious concerns about the sheer scale of waste, including plastic, solid, and even faecal waste that has accumulated on the streets.
The situation has reportedly become so dire in certain areas that locals find it difficult to even step outside their homes, highlighting the urgent need for better crowd and waste management during the yatra.
Despite the deployment of around 1,000 sanitation workers and drone surveillance by the Haridwar city authorities, the waste accumulated was higher than last year, as per reports.
Haridwar Municipal Corporation has estimated that the total waste generated during the two-week-long mela could be between 30,000 and 35,000 metric tonnes.
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