The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday launched a special two-day drive at the Banganga tank at Walkeshwar following Tripurari Purnima — a special aarti that mirrors the aarti along the Ganga ghats of Varanasi. Over 30 sanitation workers were deployed to clean out ‘nirmalya’ from the tank and its precincts. A little over a month ago, hundreds of dead fish were found floating on the surface of the water after the observation of Sarvapitri Amavasya.

Banganga is a centuries-old heritage precinct and a favoured site for prayers during Hindu festivals and rituals, due to its ghats overlooking a tank that has a natural water source. The site was undergoing a heritage restoration project, which was halted during the past week. Over the two days (Wednesday and Thursday), BMC removed approximately 4 metric tonnes of waste from the Banganga precinct following prayers and rituals. Unlike September, there has been no damage to marine life in the pond this time.