56,000 toilets, 8,000 sanitation workers planned for Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik

Nashik: The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority has unveiled an extensive sanitation plan for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, proposing 56,000 temporary toilets, deployment of more than 8,000 sanitation workers and a ban on single-use plastic to manage the massive influx of pilgrims expected at the religious congregation.The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) has proposed installing toilets across Sadhugrams, river ghats, parking lots, holding areas, approach roads and highways leading to Nashik and Trimbakeshwar. Around 2,000 changing rooms are also planned near the ghats for devotees taking holy dips in the Godavari.To strengthen waste management, NTKMA plans to place about 7,000 dustbins across the mela area and use nearly nine lakh liner bags, which will be replaced three times daily to maintain hygiene and prevent overflow.More than 8,000 sanitation personnel are proposed to be deployed round the clock for road sweeping, ghat cleaning, waste collection and toilet maintenance. Officials said the entire sanitation network will be monitored through an ICT-based system for real-time oversight and quicker response to cleanliness issues.The authority has also proposed deploying over 100 additional garbage collection vehicles, including tippers and compactors, along with waste transfer stations and quick-response teams at ghats and high-footfall locations.

A major focus of the plan is eliminating single-use plastic. Biodegradable alternatives will be promoted at food stalls and community kitchens, while bag vending machines and cloth bag distribution drives are being planned to encourage sustainable practices.Special river-cleaning measures have also been proposed, including river skimmers, cleaning boats, floating barriers and dedicated teams to remove flowers, garlands and other religious offerings from the Godavari.“Simhastha Kumbh is one of the largest human gatherings in the world. Keeping it clean is a matter of both public health and spiritual respect. We are putting in place the people, machinery and systems to ensure high standards of sanitation across the mela area,” said NTKMA commissioner Shekhar Singh.