Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday approved the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s proposal to declare October 26, the day on which Chhath Puja will be observed, as public holiday with State government offices scheduled to be shut like last year.
The AAP government, meanwhile, claimed to have chalked out a plan to check arrangements at all ghats by Ministers, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, MLAs and officers concerned.
Development Minister Gopal Rai said that the government had developed 565 Chhath ghats across the city which includes 50 permanent ghats. The remaining are semi-pucca ghats which have been created for the convenience of devotees, he said at a press conference adding that the government had allocated ₹20 crore in its budget for developing the Chhath ghats.
Officials to inspect
“MLAs, SDMs, assistant engineers, junior engineers will inspect all the ghats in their respective areas and will take stock of situation on October 25 and 26, while the Chief Minister and all the ministers will inspect the ghats next day, during the celebrations,” he said.
According to the Minister, the revenue department and the Delhi Tirth Yatra Samiti will arrange for tents, temporary toilets, ambulances, lighting, seating arrangements, drinking water and other requisite arrangements. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that party workers would offer shramdaan at the Chhath Ghats to help the municipal employees already engaged in the task of making necessary arrangements.
“Lakhs of devotees will assemble on the Yamuna ghats for Chhath Puja. The BJP workers will not only help the Chhath Puja Samitis as volunteers, but also request the devotees assembled not to leave the residue poojan samagri on the banks of the Yamuna,” Mr. Tiwari said.
The Delhi BJP chief further expressed his gratitude to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for releasing 300 q. water. “I have once again requested the Chief Minister of Delhi that he should desist from playing politics,” he said.
Alleging the AAP government and his MLAs were “putting hindrances” in the work of Chhath Samitis, Mr. Tiwari said, these would beget divine punishment. “On the one hand, some samitis are being deprived of cooperation and on the other, some volunteers are being prevented from putting up tents. I pray again that Mr. Kejriwal is bestowed with a good sense and is able to rise above party politics to help complete Chhath Puja successfully,” he added.