Hakim inaugurates makeshift ghat for Chhath devotees, more in the offing

Kolkata: State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim inaugurated a makeshift ghat that has been set up at Nonadanga in South Kolkata on Wednesday evening to facilitate devotees for the upcoming Chhath Puja.

He was accompanied by Javed Khan, state minister for Disaster Management, Antara Acharya, CEO, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and other senior officials of KMDA and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

The decision to set up 15 temporary ghats was taken after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on observing Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar. The puja will be held on the evening of November 2 and the morning of November 3.

Hakim said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that the devotees can perform the puja happily and peacefully. "This is Bengal's culture. We have held a series of meetings with the representatives of the people coming from Bihar and the devotees will not face any problem," he added.

KMDA and KMC have identified 15 waterbodies, where temporary ghats will be made to observe Chhath Puja. These makeshift ghats will be located at the Nonadanga waterbody situated near Fortis Hospital on Eastern Metropolitan bypass, Baisnabghata Patuli, Jodhpur Park lake, Govindan Kutti Park Golf Garden, Ramdhan Park Golf Garden, Motherratlla Jheel Golf Garden, Nababrindaban Housing Estate, No 10 talab, Regent Estate, Lalyalka talab, Katzu Nagar talab, Jadavpur, Nature Park, Taratala, KMDA waterbody near Ruby Hospital, Mithetallah Naskar waterbody, Kasba, Dhanmath waterbody, Kasba and Indu Park, Kasba.

The KMDA has constructed changing rooms and temporary toilets, while arrangement for temporary water supply has also been made. The ghats have been lit up and divers and personnel from disaster management will be deployed on the day of the puja. KMC will employ conservancy workers to clear the flowers that are used to perform the puja.

Meanwhile, senior officials of KMDA, KMC and city police held a high-level meeting in the presence of Antara Acharya to find out ways and means to stop people from entering Rabindra Sarobar on November 2 (evening) and 3 (morning).

Medical teams will be deployed to attend emergencies, while elaborate police arrangements will be made

at Rabindra Sarobar to prevent anyone from entering the

park on the two days of Chhath Puja.