Delhi Cleans Yamuna Ghats in Record Drive: 116 Tonnes of “Forgotten History” Removed in a Single Day

New Delhi A day after a large-scale cleanliness drive was carried out across 28 major ghats along the Yamuna in Delhi, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Monday said that approximately 116.6 metric tonnes of waste was removed in a single day as part of the coordinated effort involving civic agencies and volunteers. The drive, which saw participation from multiple departments as well as citizens, focused on clearing accumulated waste, plastic debris, and other solid pollutants from stretches of the riverbank. Officials said the operation involved extensive deployment of machinery, manpower, and transport vehicles to ensure systematic removal and disposal of waste. Speaking on the initiative, Singh described the Yamuna as more than just a river, calling it a cultural, spiritual, and emotional lifeline for the city. He said the clean-up effort represented a collective moment of civic responsibility rather than just an administrative exercise. “Yamuna is not merely a river; it is the cultural, spiritual, and emotional lifeline of Delhi. For years, conversations around the river 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,” Singh said. He further highlighted the participation of people from different age groups during the drive, noting that the most encouraging aspect was the presence of children, youth, and senior citizens working together along the ghats. “The most inspiring sight today was not the machinery or the scale of operations, but seeing children, youth, and senior citizens standing shoulder to shoulder with a shared commitment to restore the dignity of the Yamuna,” he added. Officials indicated that similar drives may be conducted in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to improve cleanliness and manage solid waste along the riverbanks. However, experts continue to stress that long-term improvement in the Yamuna’s condition will require sustained wastewater management, pollution control, and consistent maintenance beyond episodic drives. The cleanup initiative is being seen as part of the government’s renewed focus on urban environmental management and river rejuvenation efforts in the capital.