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Haridwar has completed a major cleaning drive along the Ganga ahead of Ardh Kumbh 2027. Around 200 municipal workers, volunteers and members of civic organisations joined the 18-day operation.
The teams cleaned a 10-kilometre stretch between Khadkhadi and Jwalapur. The operation covered Har Ki Pauri and several neighbouring ghats.
Workers collected approximately 150 metric tonnes of waste from the exposed riverbed. The Upper Ganga Canal remained closed for annual maintenance during the exercise. Authorities reopened the canal, and water returned to Har Ki Pauri at midnight on November 7. Haridwar Ganga cleaning
Workers Remove 150 Tonnes of Waste
The cleaning teams worked for around 12 hours each day. Their work began at 5 am and continued until sunset.
Municipal workers and volunteers removed discarded clothes, plastic bags, footwear, flowers and coconut shells. Earthmovers, tractors and JCB machines helped clear accumulated silt and transport waste.
The operation collected more than twice the waste recovered during last year’s cleaning exercise. Workers removed around 70–80 metric tonnes in the previous campaign.
The scale of this year’s operation reflects the growing preparations for Ardh Kumbh. Millions of pilgrims are expected to visit Haridwar when the religious gathering begins in January 2027.
Canal Closure Created a Cleaning Opportunity
The annual maintenance shutdown of the Upper Ganga Canal exposed large sections of the riverbed. Authorities used this period to remove accumulated waste from the ghats.
The irrigation department manages the canal flow through the Bhimgoda Barrage. During the closure, water continues downstream through the main river channel.
However, officials maintain enough water at Har Ki Pauri for the evening Ganga Aarti. The ritual generally requires around two to three feet of water at the ghat.
The canal also supplies water to several districts in Uttar Pradesh. Officials therefore cannot extend the closure indefinitely.
A Bigger Challenge Ahead of Ardh Kumbh
The cleaning drive highlights the challenge of keeping the Ganga clean throughout the year. Waste often returns after pilgrims perform rituals and make offerings.
The annual exercise removes accumulated waste, but long-term improvement requires better waste management. Authorities and visitors must also reduce plastic use and dispose of religious offerings responsibly.
Haridwar now faces the larger task of maintaining clean ghats ahead of Ardh Kumbh 2027. Regular monitoring and public participation will remain essential.