A youth-led Kapila River cleanup in Nanjangud has removed around two tractor-loads of waste and cleared a 50-metre bathing-step structure that had been covered by vegetation for several years. The campaign was conducted at the bathing ghat near Mallanamoole Mutt on Sunday as part of Kannada Rajyotsava observances.
More than 30 members of the Yuva Brigade took part in the drive, which began at 6.30 am and continued until 2 pm. The volunteers cleared overgrown vegetation from the stone steps and removed plastic waste, discarded clothes, earthen pots, containers and water hyacinth-like aquatic growth from the river.
The cleanup made the stone steps visible again and restored access to a section of the bathing ghat that had remained concealed by weeds and accumulated waste. The site is located along the Kapila River within Nanjangud, a town where riverfront bathing areas form part of the local public and religious landscape.
According to the report by Prajavani, the volunteers entered the river to collect the waste and carried out the work continuously for several hours. The material removed was estimated at approximately two tractor loads, indicating the scale of accumulation at the site before the campaign.
Imamdi Siddalinga Swamiji of Mallanamoole Mutt visited the riverbank during the drive and encouraged the volunteers. The mutt arranged refreshments and lunch for the participants and expressed appreciation for their service.
The campaign was coordinated by Yuva Brigade convener Chandrashekar. Participants named in the report included Kishore, Ravishastry, Girish, Sunil, Rangaswamy, Prajwal, Lohith, Srikanth, Ravi Sadashiva, Shilpa, Kusuma, Gautham, Chandan, Shashank, Mahadeva, Ravi, Nirupam Patel, Sharath Chandra, Kushal, Vikhyath Surya, Rakesh Prajapati, Dharma, Trishika and Neelagreeva.
The cleanup highlights the role of volunteer groups in restoring small but important public spaces along urban water bodies. It also brings attention to the recurring accumulation of plastic, clothing and other waste in river access areas used by residents and visitors. The report does not specify whether a municipal agency has scheduled follow-up maintenance, waste collection or measures to prevent fresh dumping at the bathing ghat.
No separate government or municipal statement on the campaign was included in the report. The immediate work at the site was carried out by the volunteers, with support from Mallanamoole Mutt. Further maintenance arrangements and the responsibility for keeping the cleared steps accessible were not detailed.
