Sorry for Rabindra Sarovar pollution on Chhath Puja: Mayor

Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim said he felt sorry for his failure to prevent the devotees to perform Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarovar, causing environmental pollution.

Hakim uploaded a video and apologised to the people for the failure to stop the devotees from entering the premises and perform the rituals. "I am sorry that despite taking many initiatives, we could not stop people from going to Rabindra Sarovar. We had facilitated 14 ponds for the Chhath Puja. We made vigorous campaigns and put up posters to create awareness," he said. He further added: "One cannot use force to hurt the religious sentiments of any community in Bengal as this is not our tradition. Bengal has always allowed people from every religious faith to follow their religion."

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a blanket ban on the performance of Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarovar premises.

Accordingly, senior officials of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) held discussions with the representatives of the community. The two agencies upgraded 14 ponds and ghats were built to facilitate people to hold the rituals.

Elaborate police arrangements were made to guard Rabindra Sarovar and the gates were locked. However, on Saturday morning, several people went to Rabindra Sarovar and broke open the locks. In the evening, hundreds of devotees went inside the premises and performed the Puja. They took a dip in the water risking their lives as no divers were deployed. On Sunday morning also Puja was performed.

Hakim said the environmentalists have expressed their concern over the issue and urged them to join hands with the KMC and KMDA to create awareness among the devotees of Chhath Puja.