New Delhi: A massive citizen-led cleanup unfolded along the Yamuna on Sunday as thousands of Delhiites fanned out across 28 ghats, collecting over 116 metric tonnes of waste in what the Delhi government described as one of the capital's largest coordinated riverfront cleanliness drives.
According to the Delhi government, the campaign brought together volunteers, resident welfare associations (RWAs), NGOs, community groups and government officials in a large-scale effort aimed at cleaning the Yamuna and spreading awareness against indiscriminate dumping of waste into the river.
The drive covered Yamuna ghats, riverbanks, access roads and nearby public spaces. The collected waste was segregated and processed in accordance with prescribed environmental norms. Officials said general garbage and construction and demolition (C&D) waste were disposed of through designated channels, while pooja waste and damaged idols were handled separately using environmentally compliant methods. Green waste, including water hyacinth removed from the river, was sent to designated facilities for scientific processing.
The campaign was jointly undertaken by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Revenue Department, with support from Delhi Police, DUSIB and the Health Department.
To facilitate the operation, the government deployed eight trash skimmers and weed harvesters, 28 boats equipped with trained operators and safety gear, 28 JCB machines, 84 PWD maintenance vans, 28 horticulture vehicles and garbage collection vehicles. Ambulances were also stationed at each ghat.
Water, PWD, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said, "Yamuna is not merely a river; it is the cultural, spiritual, and emotional lifeline of Delhi. For years, conversations around the Yamuna focused on what was wrong. Today, thousands of Delhiites came together to demonstrate what can be made right when citizens and government work hand in hand."
"The most inspiring sight today was not the machinery or the scale of operations, it was seeing children, youth, senior citizens, and volunteers standing shoulder to shoulder with a shared commitment to restore the dignity of the Yamuna," he added.
Emphasising the need for sustained efforts, the minister said, "Cleaning the Yamuna is not a one-day exercise. It is a long-term commitment. The government is working on multiple fronts, but lasting change will come only when every citizen considers the river their own responsibility."
The government reiterated its commitment to the rejuvenation of the Yamuna and appealed to citizens to continue supporting initiatives aimed at ensuring a cleaner and healthier river ecosystem.