Responding to the emergency, Ganga Vichar Manch orchestrated a large-scale sanitation operation on Thursday. Joined by town panchayat, wildlife department, park personnel, holy men, and community members, teams collected about 100 bags of discarded textiles and trash from the flowing Ganga.

The grueling task involved scouring banks, steps, and eddies for hours. ‘It happens yearly, but crowds make it worse,’ say locals. Unchecked, this threatens Gangotri’s environment and spiritual aura. For over a decade, the Manch has rallied pilgrims: no flowing fabrics or puja waste in the river.

Lokendra Singh Bisht, state convener, advised channeling devotion correctly. ‘Donate clothes to temples or the underprivileged. River pollution isn’t reverence.’ He urged societal shift: real piety means protecting nature through charity and service, not damage.

Appeals target the temple committee for persistent public alerts. Despite signage banning disposals, compliance lags. Social workers insist combined enforcement and education are key. The campaign has escalated to national programs like Namami Gange and government offices.

Notable contributors: Executive Officer Jayanand Semwal, Rangers Pradeep Bisht, Jaswant Chauhan, and Swami Brijanand among others. District Magistrate Prashant Arya revealed upcoming ETP infrastructure to handle traditions eco-friendly, with reprocessing options.

This episode spotlights a national imperative: harmonize devotion with duty. Ganga sustains millions spiritually and vitally. A tainted source undermines all restoration below. Let pilgrims offer resolve for purity, not refuse.