Munak Canal cleanup led by Vinay Das removes 2,500 idols

Vinay Das, a resident of Delhi, has launched a grassroots environmental campaign to clean the Munak Canal, which has long been polluted by plastic, debris, and religious offerings. The initiative began after Das witnessed the immersion of idols in the waterway.

What started with 150 children has grown into a movement involving more than 1,600 young participants, including approximately 350 active volunteers. Working in organized groups, the volunteers have cleared nearly three kilometers of the canal and its banks. To date, Das has personally recovered more than 2,500 religious idols from the water, including items following the recent Ganesh Visarjan. During the cleanup, volunteers also discovered a Shivalinga weighing between 30 and 35 kilograms buried under waste.

The operation faces significant safety risks. Volunteers have encountered hazardous materials such as broken glass, needles, and chemicals. Das and his team members have reported injuries, including chemical burns caused by leaking substances found in garbage sacks.