Haridwar clean-up: 7,000 tonnes of Kanwar Yatra waste; urine bottles found at Har Ki Pauri

The Haridwar Municipal Corporation has launched a major clean-up operation to remove approximately 7,000 metric tonnes of waste left behind by pilgrims during the 12-day Kanwar Yatra. The waste, including discarded clothing, slippers, plastic items, and bottles, has been found scattered across the city and along the Ganga ghats, with the sacred Har Ki Pauri area witnessing severe accumulation.

Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar told The Hindu that around 1,700 metric tonnes of waste had accumulated in the last two days of the yatra alone. He noted that the city routinely generates 200–250 metric tonnes of garbage daily, making the additional tonnage from the pilgrimage a considerable strain on municipal resources.

To manage the situation, the civic body launched a week-long special clean-up drive from August 12 to 18, deploying approximately 1,000 additional sanitation workers and more than 80 vehicles. Cleaning teams are working round the clock, with the ghats given top priority due to their religious significance and the high volume of pilgrim footfall.

However, the clean-up effort has also revealed an unsettling discovery. Bottles reportedly filled with urine were found inside women’s changing rooms set up by the civic body at Har Ki Pauri, one of the most sacred ghats in Hinduism. Mr. Kumar called the finding 'a shocker,' stating that the changing rooms were meant exclusively for women. He suggested that anti-social elements were likely responsible, as permanent and temporary toilets had been installed across the city, along the Kanwar route, and at the ghats.

'We are trying to analyse CCTV footage around the ghats to identify who did this and are also considering what action can be taken to prevent such acts in the future,' the Commissioner added.

Nitin Gautam, president of Shri Ganga Sabha, an organisation that manages religious activities at Haridwar’s ghats, also expressed concern over the waste accumulation. He announced plans to launch an awareness campaign from next year to discourage pilgrims from leaving waste and bottles at the ghats. 'We will ask the kanwariyas to ensure that no anti-social elements join their groups, as such acts—like leaving human excreta and urine in the Ganga ghats—hurt the religious sentiments of devotees,' he said.

Har Ki Pauri is regarded as the place where the Ganga emerges from the mountains and enters the plains, making it one of Haridwar’s most important religious sites. The Kanwar Yatra, which reportedly drew around 50 million devotees this year, presents significant logistical and environmental challenges for the city. The massive influx of pilgrims strains infrastructure and leads to such waste accumulation, highlighting the need for better planning and public awareness during large religious congregations.

The incident underscores the broader challenge of managing waste at mass gatherings. While the local administration focuses on immediate clean-up, religious and civic organisations are looking at long-term solutions, including public education and stricter oversight, to preserve both the sanctity and cleanliness of the Ganga ghats. The success of these efforts will depend on the cooperation of pilgrims and community participation, ensuring that such sacred sites remain clean for future generations.