A massive cleanliness drive at the Munak canal near the Kanhaiya Nagar Metro Station in Delhi has led to the recovery of hundreds of religious idols and symbols, including a Shivling weighing approximately 30 to 35 kilograms. The canal and its surrounding areas have undergone a major transformation after tons of accumulated garbage and silt were successfully cleared from the waterbody. This coordinated effort marks a major step toward restoring local ecology and enhancing public health in the surrounding residential areas.
Heavy Shivling and Idols Recovered from Silt
As the cleanup crews extracted layers of deep-seated waste and debris from the canal bed, they discovered a large Shivling weighing between 30 and 35 kg, which had been buried under the muck for a long time. Alongside this, workers salvaged around 400 to 500 other religious idols and sacred objects. These items, submerged in the canal due to direct disposal or ritual immersion over the years, were carefully retrieved by the volunteers during the process. Clearing this dense sludge has not only restored the depth of the canal but also significantly mitigated the risk of vector-borne diseases in the Kanhaiya Nagar neighborhood.
A Collaborative Clean-up Initiative
The restoration of this vital waterbody was made possible through a joint effort involving local civic bodies and a non-governmental organization. Over 250 young volunteers from the Wazirpur-based Swasti Das Seva Sansthan (SDSS) actively participated in the drive, dedicating their time to manual dredging. To assist them, more than 50 officials and sanitation staff from the MCD deployed specialized heavy machinery and garbage disposal trucks. The PWD team also provided active ground and technical support to ensure the canal was thoroughly cleared and the removed waste was immediately transported away.
Promoting Waterway Protection
Vinay Das, the founder-president of Swasti Das Seva Sansthan, explained that this marks the fourth major cleanliness drive organized by the group at the Munak canal within the last six months. The primary objective of these recurring campaigns is to not only remove physical waste but also educate the community on the long-term importance of preserving local water resources. Following the successful drive, MCD Keshavpuram Zone Deputy Commissioner Mohan Bansal urged local residents to cooperate in maintaining the canal. He appealed to everyone to refrain from dumping solid waste, domestic garbage, or religious materials back into the clean waters.
