Haridwar Ganga turns ‘crystal clear’ after closure; Teerth Purohit warns against river pollution

The waters of the Ganga in Haridwar have turned clear following the periodic closure of the canal (Ganga Bandi) for maintenance. Teerth Purohit Ujjwal Pandit says, "The large-scale cleanliness drive conducted during the recent period when the Ganga was closed to visitors is a significant factor in this transformation. Devotees must realise that the influx of people—who often leave behind old clothes, various other items, or materials that should never be discarded into the river—alters the very nature of the Ganga. While the volume of pilgrims can be immense, the current closure of the portals has led to a decline in the number of visitors, allowing the Ganga to return to its natural state... Furthermore, the government is consistently working to plug the drains that discharge into the Ganga and to reduce the pollution entering its waters..."