New Delhi: The large-scale dredging and cleaning efforts at Maha Kumbh 2025 were not just about a single event but a blueprint for river restoration across India. By unifying the Ganga’s fragmented streams and tackling waste at its source, Cleantec Infra Pvt Ltd has demonstrated how faith-driven gatherings can align with sustainability.

In an exclusive conversation with Bureaucrats India, Gaurav Chopra, Managing Director and Co-founder of Cleantec Infra, shares insights into the meticulous planning and execution behind this transformative project.

Cleantec Infra has played a crucial role in expanding the Sangam area for Mahakumbh 2025. Can you walk us through the process of merging the three Ganga streams and creating 26 hectares of additional land?

When we started in October 2024, the Ganga was flowing through three different streams, with a huge island and a sandbank in the river. The objective was very clear, under the leadership and initiative of the UP-Irrigation Department, we needed to create a large water area for the Triveni Sangam itself and a spacious land area where devotees could stand.

At that time, just after the monsoon, the river had three diverging streams, along with a massive island and sandbank at its center. The goal was to use river dredging, something we have done across the country, to remove the island and merge the three streams into one main channel. This would improve the water flow and significantly expand the Sangam area. The sand dredged from the river was then reclaimed and used to extend the beach area.

As a result, 26 hectares of land were added to the Sangam Nose, the tip where the two rivers meet. There was significant land reclamation on the Jhunsi (Ganga river bank) also from where devotees could approach Sangam, by foot. This project was truly expansive, and full credit goes to the UP-Irrigation Department, the Mela Pradhikaran, and the district administration for planning and executing this initiative in advance.

We deployed three dredgers, operating simultaneously for about 80–85 days, from mid-October to early January, working around the clock, 24/7. It was a challenging yet incredibly rewarding project.

Dredging is often associated with commercial or industrial purposes. How has Cleantec Infra adapted this technology for environmental and public welfare projects like Mahakumbh?

Dredging has various applications, and its use depends on the specific requirements. One major application is river channelization for flood protection, which we achieve through corrective dredging. In this process, we dredge and create a new channel for water to flow, essentially straightening the river and diverting it away from flood-prone areas saving nearby villages from loss of life and property.

Another important use of dredging is increasing water-holding capacity for drinking water which we are doing in Rajasthan. Additionally, dredging is used to facilitate navigation in waterways. For example, in Tripura, we are constructing a channel in the middle of the river, approximately 30 meters wide and 3 meters deep, to enable vessels to transport cargo and passengers efficiently. Dredging is also useful to remove sludge and sediment that is impeding water flow as we have done in Najafgarh drain in Delhi, one of the major contributors of pollution in River Yamuna 
Overall, dredging has numerous applications, each serving a critical role in water management and infrastructure development for the greater public good. 

The trash skimmers deployed at Sangam work continuously to remove floating waste. How do these skimmers differ from conventional waste removal methods, and what impact have they had so far?

Naturally, with more than 50 crore people expected to take a dip at the Sangam, one can imagine the unprecedented scale of waste generation. Unfortunately, plastic bottles, food packets, and other non-biodegradable waste can remain in the river for thousands of years. Additionally, organic waste such as coconuts and flowers add to the river's pollution load. Removing such a massive quantity of waste manually is not feasible.

Mechanization is imperative, as it allows waste removal on a much larger and more efficient scale. Under the initiative and leadership of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation and Mela Pradhikaran, trash skimmers were deployed. These boats move up and down the river, equipped with collection gates at the front that gather waste through a conveyor system. The waste is then compacted within the machine using a central conveyor, allowing for higher capacity collection. Finally, an unloading conveyor at the back disposes of the waste.

We use similar technology for removing vegetation, aquatic weeds, and trash from lakes. For instance, in the Sabarmati River cleaning project, four trash skimmers were utilized to remove all floating waste and clean up the river. After the initial clean up, these machines continue to work to maintain the river that has become an iconic project for the country. At the Sangam, two skimmers are currently in operation, removing approximately 10 tons of waste per day. Over a span of 40-45 days, each machine has removed around 500 tons of waste, totaling approximately 1,000 tons. This collected waste is transported to recycling facilities, with discussions underway to repurpose floral waste into incense sticks (agarbattis). This initiative highlights the scale and impact of mechanized waste removal in maintaining river cleanliness.

Sustainability is a major concern in waste management. How does Cleantec Infra balance efficiency with eco-friendly practices in its operations? How does weed removal and water management  process impacts the eco system of the river? 

Weeds, in the context of aquatic ecosystems, are plants that grow in water bodies due to excessive pollutant loads, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which serve as nutrients for their growth. Combined with sunlight, these conditions allow aquatic vegetation to thrive. However, when these plants die, they contribute to the formation of algae, disrupting the ecosystem.
Maintaining a balance is crucial—while a certain amount of greenery benefits the water body, excessive aquatic vegetation can deplete oxygen levels, making it difficult for fish to survive and leading to foul odors. To prevent this ecological imbalance, regular maintenance is essential.

Since 2010, we have undertaken over 50 to 60 water weed removal projects across the country, including Dal Lake in Srinagar, Bellandur Lake in Bangalore, and Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. Through technological interventions and a holistic approach, we aim to restore and sustain the harmony of aquatic ecosystems.

With millions of devotees expected at Mahakumbh, how is the expanded riverfront improving crowd management and environmental sustainability?  

As mentioned earlier, we are recycling waste while keeping people's sensitivities in mind. Floral materials are repurposed into incense sticks (agarbattis) and reintroduced into the system, preventing them from ending up in dumping yards. If we can find meaningful ways to reuse waste within society, there can be no better solution. Biodegradable materials decompose naturally, but plastics remain in the environment indefinitely, continuously circulating. By removing and recycling plastic waste, we are providing a valuable service to society.

Additionally, we must recognize our moral responsibility as citizens. We cannot rely solely on the government to address pollution; we have our own responsibilities to fulfil. Raising awareness about this issue is crucial in fostering a collective effort toward a cleaner environment.

What were the biggest challenges in executing this large-scale river rejuvenation project, and how did you navigate them?

Meticulous planning and a great deal of hard work went into this effort, and credit must be given where it is due to the Mela Pradhikaran, the district administration, the municipal corporation, the UP-Irrigation Department, the Chief Minister’s Office of Uttar Pradesh, and the Prime Minister’s Office. This planning had been in progress for a long time.
Full credit goes to the entire team, who worked tirelessly day and night. There were times when pipelines came loose, and people had to jump into the water to reattach them. It was a challenging process overall, but the entire administration managed it exceptionally well.

Cleantec Infra has introduced advanced mechanised solutions for water body cleaning. What innovations are you most excited about, and what’s next for the company?

Over the last 15 years, we have completed more than 100 projects. Before starting any project, we assess a couple of key factors: the water body cleaning needs and we work backwards from that to the types of tools and machinery needed for deployment and then the monitoring of progress during implementation. We pride ourselves in being solution providers i.e. we combine technology with extensive experience of operation and maintenance to become long term partners to the government in delivering end to end holistic solution to their water body cleaning needs.
Specifically for the Yamuna, the Government of Delhi has already implemented a four-pronged strategy for river cleaning. Our company’s skimmer machines, deployed with the Delhi Irrigation Department, are actively being used, along with other machines that are cleaning drains in the Najafgarh area. The Yamuna River remains highly polluted, primarily due to these drains.
As a company, we engage in extensive discussions on water body cleaning across the country. Our model is not limited to simply selling machines; rather, we focus on building long-term partnerships with the government.

You transitioned from a successful corporate career to founding Cleantec Infra. What motivated this shift, and what were the biggest learnings along the way

Well, I was a management consultant for a significant part of my career before going overseas for my MBA. I then continued working in corporate strategy, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies. While it was a fulfilling experience, I always had a nagging feeling, I wanted to build something from the ground up, where I could make a tangible impact. That desire was a major driving force behind my transition into this field.

I was fortunate that my relatives were already involved in the mechanized cleaning sector. My uncles were captains in the merchant navy, so we had a deep understanding of water, machinery, and how to operate and maintain it to provide effective waste management solutions.

In 2010, we decided to combine our expertise and launched Cleantec. We were fortunate that a project for cleaning Dal Lake in Srinagar came up. We promised to introduce world-class technology used in the U.S. and Europe. We traveled to different countries, partnered with OEMs, and initially imported their technology. As we progressed, we began manufacturing these machines in India.
Today, we have two factories in Mumbai and are a fully "Make in India" company. This journey has been incredibly fulfilling. As I mentioned, you can see the scale of change you are driving, understand challenges at the grassroots level, and collaborate with bureaucrats and engineers to create meaningful solutions.

Your academic journey spans London Business School and chartered accountancy. How have these experiences shaped your approach to problem-solving in the environmental sector? 

Having an analytical mindset always helps. Whatever solutions you create must be cost-effective while also being sustainable. It’s essential to consider a triple ROI, not just financial returns but also the impact on society and the environment.

Another key factor is customer centricity, keeping the customer at the center of everything. Understanding their pain points, identifying the measures that will work for them, and then taking action accordingly is crucial. While we have set product standards, we do not shy away from improvising and developing new products based on unique needs.

Cleantec Infra has introduced advanced mechanised solutions for water body cleaning. What innovations are you most excited about, and what’s next for the company?

We are most excited about drain cleaning. If you look at lakes and rivers, the Yamuna is a great example of what we are discussing. Large parts of lakes and rivers are polluted primarily due to drains. Unplanned development and unauthorized clusters, such as houses without sewage connections, have resulted in household waste finding its way into these water bodies.
Our goal and mission for the future are to clean open stormwater drains in congested areas. The challenge here is that these drains are not very wide, making it difficult to deploy machines that can effectively crawl up and down the drain. Our endeavor is to target every stormwater drain across the country and clean them because, if we succeed, the lakes and rivers of the country will no longer be as polluted.

One message for Bureaucrats India and our audience?

I would like to thank the entire team of Bureaucrats India for creating this forum. Good governance is something that should be celebrated, and new ideas should be brainstormed to find effective solutions. A platform like this, where conversations can take place and success stories can be shared among bureaucrats, helps pave the way for meaningful progress. In many ways, half the battle is won just by fostering such dialogue.

BI Bureau