Ghats get ready for Chhath with bio-toilets, changing rooms

Kolkata: The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is preparing to develop both temporary and permanent ghats at different water bodies across the city for devotees to perform Chhath Puja. These will be equipped with infrastructure such as bio-toilets, adequate lighting, changing rooms, and drinking water facilities.

Like the last few years, there will be 39 temporary ghats in different parts of the city for devotees to observe Chhath. There are seven permanent ghats that have been specially developed by KMDA for the rituals. Six of them are at Nonadanga and another at Patuli off EM Bypass.

Temporary infrastructural arrangements will be made for devotees to observe the Chhath rituals at water bodies within Ramdhan Park, Govindan Kutty Park, and Madartala at Golf Gardens, Tollygunge, Katzunagar water body, Layelka pond, Naba Brindaban Pond within Regent Estate, Bijoygarh, and other places.

Temporary ghats will be set up at Jodhpur Park Pond, Dhakuria, Pond No. 10, the water body adjacent to RR Colony, near Ruby crossing, Dhanmath, Mithetala, and Indu Park in Kasba, and other places. Flexes and signage will be put up at various locations around the Kasba area, Rabindra Sarobar, and locations between Jadavpur and Tollygunge.

KMDA authorities will be arranging street plays in front of Rabindra Sarobar as part of an awareness generation campaign to keep the Sarobar water body and lake premises clean and pollution-free.

Officials said that both Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar will be shut as there will be adequate police presence and barricades to prevent the entry of Chhath devotees inside the premises. "The lakes will be shut from 10 am on Oct 26 and will reopen on late evening of Oct 28 or from early morning the next day. There will be adequate police patrolling and barricades to prevent entry of devotees, " said an official.

Source: The Times of India