Overview

• Haridwar recorded an unprecedented 5.5 crore pilgrims during the two-week Kanwar Yatra, overwhelming municipal capacity and swelling daily waste from 350 to 1,000 metric tonnes.
• Officials estimate roughly 10,000 metric tonnes of garbage accumulated and say it will take at least half a month to complete the cleanup.
• The city has been divided into seven cleaning zones with over 1,000 workers supported by dustbins, compostable bags and two conservancy staff per 50-meter stretch.
• During the initial phase, sanitation teams aim to clear urban roads and Ganga ghats within three days before moving to residential areas.
• Environmentalists warn that residual plastic and solid waste continues to flow into the Ganga River, prompting renewed demands for a permanent waste management commission and infrastructure upgrades.