With Chhath Puja set to begin on 13 November, the Delhi government and civic agencies have stepped up preparations across the capital, identifying 1,482 ghats at 996 locations for devotees. Inspections are under way to make sure facilities are ready in time for the four-day festival, which runs to 16 November.
Lakhs of devotees are expected at the ghats over the four days, from Nahay-Khay to Usha Arghya, and the preparations cover everything from cleaning and lighting to toilets, changing rooms and crowd management.
An 11-km ghat along the Munak Canal
The highlight of this year's preparations is a nearly 11-km Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on Thursday by BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union minister of state Harsh Malhotra, cabinet ministers and other dignitaries are expected to attend the event at Labour Chowk, near Singalpur village in Shalimar Bagh.
The ghat has been developed by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department with permanent steps, paved roads on both banks, changing rooms, toilets, lighting and CCTV cameras. Benches, greenery and fountains have been added, and three bridges are under construction.
Around 1,400 truckloads of debris and waste were removed during the cleaning and revival of the canal. Most of the work is complete, and the remaining bridges and greenery are targeted for completion in two to three months. The ghat will benefit families in Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur, Model Town, Adarsh Nagar and Badli.
The numbers behind the preparations
Of the 996 locations, 53 have 81 permanent ghats, 914 locations have 1,372 temporary ghats, and 29 ghats at 29 locations sit along the Yamuna. In all, 74 agencies are engaged in the work and 155 works have been awarded.
Inspections and a cleanliness drive
Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma has inspected several ghats, including Haathi Ghat at ITO, and the Delhi Jal Board is coordinating the work. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has inspected ghats across its zones.
In the East Zone, inspectors found waste along the riverbank and floating waste in the Yamuna at Haathi Ghat, and directions were issued for immediate clearance using motorised boats. The corporation has also directed timely removal of construction and demolition waste, adequate dustbins, separate collection and disposal of puja offerings, cleanliness signboards, zonal nodal officers and water sprinklers to keep dust down.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has inspected five ghats in Rohini as part of the same drive, as the capital's agencies race to finish the last of the preparations before devotees arrive on Friday.
