‘Ensure cleaning of unused canals for Chhath’

Delhi Congress on Friday urged LG Najeeb Jung and AAP government to ensure cleaning of unused canals passing through unauthorised colonies in the city for the benefit of people observing Chhath festival.

Senior Congress leader and former MLA Mukesh Sharma wrote to Jung after visiting the ghats at Hastsal and alleged that preparations there were inadequate. The four-day festival, observed mainly by people from Bihar and easter Uttar Pradesh or Poorvanchalis, began on Friday. On the last two days, people throng the ghats to make offering to the rising and the setting sun. With Delhi Municipal polls due next year, political parties are likely to woo this migrant community as they comprise a sizeable voting population. Sharma said there are around 50 unused canals in Delhi out of which only 19 are used for irrigation purposes.

“Poorvanchal people live in large numbers in Delhi and therefore it was essential that these canals which pass through unauthorised colonies are cleaned up and filled with fresh water for Chhat puja,” he said.