Delhi: Police disperse crowd thronging Yamuna Ghat for Chhath Puja

NEW DELHI: Police and administrative officials on Wednesday stopped scores of devotees thronging the ghats along the Yamuna river in Delhi for Chhath festivities, citing DDMA orders prohibiting celebrations along the river bank in view of Covid-19.
A crowd gathered at the Yamuna Ghat near Kalindi Kunj in the morning was dispersed by police and district officials, and people were re-directed towards designated spots to observe the rituals.
The city government has set up 800 makeshift ghats across Delhi for devotees to perform Chhath rituals.
The four-day-long festival of Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated by 'Purvanchalis' from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand settled in Delhi.
During the festival, worshippers follow elaborate rituals by offering 'Arghya' to the sun and also observe fast.
A police officer said adequate arrangements have been made at the spots designated for the rituals to manage the crowd.
Government officials said 100 teams have been deployed in South East Delhi to ensure there is no violation of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) orders.
A senior Delhi Police officer said adequate staff from Kalindi Kunj and other police stations of the district have been deployed at the Yamuna Ghat.
"Our staff are also explaining to visiting devotees about the National Green Tribunal order, and urging them to comply with the guidelines and observe the rituals at their respective homes or within the colonies. Many of them are convinced and are returning home," he said.
Senior district officials are also monitoring the situation, he said.
"We have also been interacting with organisers of Chhath Puja and asking them to send devotees to the designated spots where all facilities, including lighting, water, sanitation and medical care is being provided," he said.
Paramilitary personnel have also been pressed to urge people to comply with the DDMA orders, besides keeping a watch on the law and order situation, the officials said.
The DDMA had on October 29 allowed Chhath celebrations at "designated sites", barring the banks of river Yamuna, and directed administration and police officials to ensure strict compliance of all its Covid-related orders.
The DDMA order also pointed out that any violation of the guidelines would invite prosecution according to legal provisions, including those of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
AAP govt banned Chhath celebrations on Yamuna banks to cover up its failure to clean river: BJP
The Delhi BJP on Wednesday mounted a fresh attack on the Kejriwal government accusing it of banning Chhath celebrations on the Yamuna riverbanks to cover up its failure to clean the river.
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta claimed that Yamuna picked up 80 per cent of its pollutants from industrial discharge and sewage in its 22-km passage through the city.
"Arvind Kejriwal ji, you banned Chhath at Yamuna banks to cover up failure of your government to clean the river," Gupta said at a press conference.
North East Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also slammed the AAP government over heavy pollution in the Yamuna.
"Instead of preventing flow of drains such as Najafgarh nullah, the Kejriwal government is stopping people from celebrating Chhath at the banks of the river. The Supreme court should take note of the situation and the Kejriwal government should be treated like a criminal for playing with health of the people," Tiwari said at the press conference.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had in an order on September 30 prohibited Chhath at public places, including the Yamuna banks.
However, after protests against the ban by the BJP, the DDMA in its order on October 29 allowed Chhath celebrations at "designated sites" barring the banks of the Yamuna.
It has directed administrative and police officials to ensure strict compliance with all its COVID-19-related orders.
The festival of Chhath, popular among Purvanchali inhabitants of the national capital, will be celebrated with paying of obeisance ('arghya') to the setting Sun on Wednesday evening. It will conclude with 'arghya' to the rising Sun on Thursday.
The BJP and the AAP are engaged in a war of words over the festival with each trying to outsmart the other and seek favour of the Purvanchali community.