RANCHI: Ranchi city mayor Asha Lakra on Tuesday said the municipal corporation will not be able to provide water to lakhs of residents for Chhath Puja rituals and demanded that the state government revokes its ban on use both artificial and natural waterbodies for the rituals.
The government’s Chhath Puja guidelines, issued late on Sunday night, banned congregation of people around the waterbodies citing the Covid-19 pandemic. However, widespread protests erupted across the state with both political and social outfits holding demonstrations and demanding rollback of the guidelines. Even lawmakers and members of the ruling parties —JMM and Congress — have sought relaxation in the guidelines, putting the government in a tight spot.
Despite the ban, Lakra on Tuesday inspected different waterbodies across the city as part of the civic body’s preparations for the puja. Talking to TOI, the mayor said, “We are going ahead with our preparations hoping that revised guidelines will be issued soon. Chhath holds immense religious significance for lakhs of people and banning the use of rivers and ponds for the rituals is hurting their religious sentiments. We are getting ready to ensure that the ghats do not witness last-minute chaos.”
Stressing on lack of resources and manpower crunch to provide water for in-house rituals, Lakra said taking a dip in a waterbody before offering prayers to the Sun God is an important element and the government should revoke the ban.
“Currently, residents in many localities are barely managing household chores with water provided by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation In this situation, holding Chhath rituals inside their homes would be next to impossible," she added.
On the condition of the waterbodies in the city, Lakra said all ghats are ready with a few of them requiring finishing touches. “After the Durga Puja, we cleaned the waterbodies and majority of them are in a good shape. Some last-minute works like putting up signage for dangerous water levels are needed. They will be completed in the next couple of days,” she said.