Patna: Three Ganga ghats declared dangerous

PATNA: The district administration has put up boards of ‘dangerous ghat’ at the entrance of LCT Ghat, Bans Ghat and Pahalwan Ghat after a preliminary inspection by Patna DM Chandra Shekhar Singh with the officials of water resources department (WRD).
The DM said around 20-22 ghats are declared dangerous every year due to rise in water level, swamp and soil erosion.
“During the inspection, we found that three ghats are not suitable for the Chhath rituals due to marshy land and too much of slush. The list of dangerous ghats will be released on Monday after getting the report from the WRD executives. Another round of inspection will be done before declaring the final list of dangerous ghats by November 5,” he told this newspaper on Sunday.
Singh said the devotees will not be allowed to visit dangerous or unsafe ghats for Chhath Puja. Besides proper barricading along with signboards informing the devotees, security personnel will be deployed at such ghats to restrict the people.
The Chhath festivities will begin with the nahay-khay on November 8, followed by ‘kharna’ on November 9 and the evening ‘arghya’ to the Sun God the next day. The Chhath festivities will conclude on November 11 with the morning ‘arghya’.
The DM said 48 ponds and 92 ghats were being cleaned in the city areas. “As many as 95 control rooms and 131 auxiliary control rooms and watch towers will be set up for the safety of Chhath vratis during the rituals. Provision is being made to set up five temporary hospitals, 161 toilets and 265 urinals. Around 95 medical teams and 28 ambulances will be deputed at the Ganga ghats,” he said.
Besides barricading, arrangements were being made for generator set, electricity supply, signage, public address system, changing room, drinking water, mobile medical team, deputation of NDRF and SDRF personnel. Local divers will also be near the embankments.
The DM visited Patna zoo, BMP-5, Anisabad pond and Kachi Talab in Gardanibagh to review the preparations for Chhath.
DMD instructions to DMs: State disaster management department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal has issued instructions to all the DMs to make special arrangements for the safety of devotees and their family members at ponds and ghats. Agarwal said ghats and ponds should be barricaded with proper markings. “Security forces, magistrates, police force and other volunteers should be deputed at all ghats. Paramedical teams, along with doctors, should be deputed to ensure necessary medical arrangements at the ghats,” he said, adding that arrangements should also be made for ambulances at the ghats as per the requirement.
“Control rooms will be operated uninterruptedly at the ghats. All the important telephone numbers should be available in the control rooms so that information can be immediately given to the district control room and state emergency operation centre at Patna. Private boats will be banned,” he aid. Agarwal also said there will be a complete ban on the sale and use of firecrackers from November 8 to November 11 on the banks of the river and approach roads.