35,000 volunteers rally to clean the Yamuna, 70 spots refreshed in a single morning

On a bright Sunday morning, the banks of the Yamuna turned into a bustling work‑site. Roughly 35,000 volunteers – a mix of everyday citizens, members of residents’ welfare associations, political workers, students and NGO activists – gathered to sweep, haul and load trash from 70 stretches of the riverfront.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, who oversaw the operation, announced that the effort lifted an eye‑watering 76,755 kg of solid waste from places ranging from Soor Ghat in Wazirabad and the iconic Signature Bridge to the bustling areas of Yamuna Bazar, ITO, Nizamuddin, Sarai Kale Khan and Chilla. “It’s not just about picking up litter,” Singh said, “it’s a step toward reclaiming the river for the city’s 20 million‑plus inhabitants.”

The crowd was a true mosaic: about 20,000 local residents and RWA members, 10,500 party workers, 2,500 students and another 2,000 volunteers from non‑profits. Over 25 Delhi University colleges pitched in, with Deshbandhu College alone sending more than 400 eager helpers.

Behind the scenes, a fleet of equipment kept the momentum going. Twenty‑six JCB excavators, nineteen tractor‑trolleys, twenty‑four boats, seven weed harvesters and a handful of trash skimmers were deployed, complemented by 269 maintenance vans from the Public Works Department. Singh gave a shout‑out to the 227 sanitation workers and machine operators whose hands‑on work made the day possible.

But the clean‑up isn’t an isolated event. The minister hinted at a broader overhaul of Delhi’s water and sewage framework. On October 22, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for 43 projects under the Delhi Jal Board, totalling nearly ₹9,000 crore. Highlights include a brand‑new 124 MGD sewage‑treatment plant at Okhla (₹1,161 crore), upgrades to eight existing plants boosting capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD, and a sprawling 1,034‑km sewer network that will criss‑cross the capital.

Looking ahead, Singh stressed that cleaning the ghats is only half the battle; stopping untreated sewage from flowing into the Yamuna is the real long‑term goal. To keep the spirit alive, he unveiled a quirky “Birthday with Yamuna” idea – temporary huts along the river where people can celebrate birthdays, with the minister himself promising to mark his own on November 7.

All in all, the day proved that when a city’s diverse voices unite behind a common cause, even a river as beleaguered as the Yamuna can glimpse a cleaner, brighter future.