Lucknow: Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh held a meeting with divisional commissioners and district magistrates via video conferencing on Tuesday and issued directions regarding Chhath Puja, stubble-burning, rice procurement and other issues. The four day Chhath festivities began on Tuesday with devotees observing the ritual of 'Nahaye Khaye' on the first day.
The CS directed the officials to maintain cleanliness and safety at ghats during the Chhath Puja which began on Tuesday. He said that puja committees should ensure preparations at the Chhath ghats are completed on time and that water in rivers, ponds and other sources is clean. "There should be adequate arrangements for bathing, mobile toilets, portable toilets, drinking water and changing rooms near the ghats. Message boards should also be installed at the site. People should be encouraged to use jute or cloth bags instead of plastic bags. The municipal bodies should ensure proper cleaning of the ghats at least twice a day," he said. The CS emphasised on functional streetlights and clean access routes to the ghats. Ghats should be barricaded while beds should be reserved in hospitals for emergencies. Arrangements for skilled swimmers and divers at Chhath Puja sites should be ensured, he added. Besides, parking arrangements will be made near the puja sites and there will be no fireworks near the ghats. CCTVs and drones will be used for monitoring the ghats and all DMs and SPs have been directed to inspect the puja sites. The CS said that the demand for DAP fertiliser was expected to increase in potato-producing areas and sufficient DAP is available in the state to meet the demand.
On stubble-burning incidents, the CS said that in districts where stubble burning incidents are more frequent, people should be encouraged to not burn stubble. If they still do not comply, action should be taken against them.
He said that farmers coming to sell rice at purchase centres should not face any difficulties.