Mahakumbh: Trash Skimmer Removes 15 Tons of Waste Daily from Ganga-Yamuna

Mahakumbh Nagar. The Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is committed to keeping the Ganga and Yamuna rivers clean and pristine during Mahakumbh. To ensure that pilgrims can take a holy dip in the Sangam’s clean waters, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation is deploying modern machines for river cleaning. Trash skimmer machines are being used daily to remove 10-15 tons of waste, helping maintain the purity of the sacred confluence.

As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), the state government launched this river-cleaning initiative four years ago. Initially, a single trash skimmer machine was installed, collecting approximately 50-60 quintals of waste per day. Seeing its effectiveness, the municipal corporation added another machine two years ago, doubling the river-cleaning capacity.

How Does the Trash Skimmer Machine Work?
Trash skimmer machines collect floating waste from the water surface, removing plastic, bottles, religious offerings, clothes, metal objects, worship waste, dead animals, and water hyacinths. Each machine has a capacity of 13 cubic meters and can cover a four-kilometer stretch in the river. The machines effectively clean the Sangam area, including the Boat Club and beyond.

Increased Cleaning Needs During Mahakumbh
With the rising number of pilgrims during Mahakumbh, waste accumulation in the rivers has also increased significantly. Officials report that since the event began, waste collection through these machines has increased 20 times. The machines operate with hydraulic gates that trap floating waste, transferring it to conveyor belts for easy disposal.

How Is the Collected Waste Managed?
The waste collected by these machines is transported to a dumping site near Naini in Prayagraj. From there, it is taken to the Baswar processing plant, where plastic waste is sent for recycling, while other biodegradable materials are processed into compost.

These trash skimmer machines were imported from Mumbai, and their operation has been contracted to the supplier company for five years. According to municipal officials, this initiative will enhance cleanliness in the Sangam area during Mahakumbh, allowing devotees to experience both spiritual purity and environmental consciousness.