Kolkata: Two lakes to stay shut from November 10 morning to November 11 late afternoon

KOLKATA: Both Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar will remain out of bounds to morning walkers from Wednesday morning (November 10) to Thursday afternoon (November 11) to keep devotees at bay during the Chhath Puja to comply with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to prevent any further degradation of the biodiversity hotspots.
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) officials said that all the local clubs of Rabindra Sarobar have already been notified about the decision to keep the Sarobar gates shut from the intervening night of November 9 and November 10 till late afternoon of November 11. “The final notification in this regard is however yet to be published and is expected to be issued by Monday,” said a KMDA source.

Both KMDA officials and the police are to conduct an inspection of the lakes on Monday to look into the security arrangements that are being set up, officials said. All the gates of Rabindra and Subhas Sarobar will have police patrolling. “Last year, the administration did a commendable job by not allowing Chhath on the Lake premises. I hope this year, too, the same measures and action will be taken,” said Sumita Banerjee, a lake crusader.
Officials said that as for the alternative arrangements for Chhath Puja, devotees can perform the Puja rituals at 32 temporary ghats and seven permanent ghats. “The ghats were set up in water bodies off EM Bypass, at Golf Gardens, Patuli, Kasba, Nonadanga and other places. There will be police assistance booths and medical camps at all the ghats,” said a KMDA official, adding that around Rs 37 lakh has been spent for setting up the ghats and making alternative arrangements.
Also, NDRF teams will be deployed at all locations to avoid any mishap.
Officials said that at seven permanent ghats, the authorities were cleaning up the pond and have set up temporary gates along with lights, wash room, change room and bio-toilet facilities. At the temporary ghats, wooden platforms have been put up along with stairs, railings and view cutters with bamboo and clothes. The ponds will also be cleaned up for Chhath devotees.
The administration managed to debar Chhath devotees from entering lake premises last year by making arrangements for alternative ghats. KMDA officials, the custodian of both Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar, said that last year’s protocols and security arrangements will be strictly adhered to at both the lakes.
In 2018 National Green Tribunal had summarily dismissed Chhath Puja at Rabindra Sarobar to keep the water pollution-free. But, the state had filed a review petition last year with an appeal to allow Chhath Puja to be observed at Sarobar and the matter went to the Supreme Court. The SC refused to grant a stay on the NGT order.