Varanasi: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to attend the formal inauguration of the newly developed NaMo Ghat on the occasion of Dev Deepawali on Nov 15. The inauguration will feature a series of cultural programmes and a grand firework display at the Ghat.
Divisional commissioner, Kaushal Raj Sharma, on Friday, held a meeting to review the preparations for the upcoming Dev Deepawali festival. This year, the main event of Dev Deepawali will be held at NaMo Ghat. A projection show will be organised at Chet Singh Ghat, and fireworks will take place in front of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
After the inauguration programme, CM Yogi will light a lamp to commence the Dev Deepawali celebration.
During the meeting with officials, Sharma instructed Varanasi Municipal Corporation to focus on cleanliness, remove silt from the ghats post-flood, clean the steps, assign cleaning staff across the site, ensure clean toilets, arrange drinking water, provide street lighting, arrange special lighting in lanes, send stray animals to shelters, set up a public address system, clean and place jetties at appropriate locations, and establish boarding points at NaMo Ghat, Rajghat, Samne Ghat, and Ravidas Park.
Special attention to security arrangements was emphasised by the commissioner to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. All administrative officers and members of the the civic body and other departments were urged to fulfil their responsibilities with coordination and teamwork.
Kashi Ganga Festival, to be held from Nov 12-14 at Assi Ghat, will feature cultural programmes by local artists and various participants from Varanasi. The police department was instructed to make proper arrangements for the movement of the public and artists.
Commissioner also gave instructions to install single-colour spiral lights at the airport and other city locations, and to ensure proper lighting on govt buildings. He suggested the officials hold meetings with trade organisations to arrange lighting at commercial establishments. The health department was instructed to set up medical and ambulance services, establish medical camps, assign medical duties on boats, and keep SSPG Hospital, Vivekananda Hospital in Bhelupur, and Durgakund CHC fully operational for any emergencies.
The police department, NDRF, fire services, and water police were directed to make all arrangements for security, ensuring safe and pollution-free operation of boats in the Ganga with utmost priority on tourist safety. Police deployment at fireworks sites was also instructed.
Commissioner instructed that all preparations related to the event be completed by Nov 13, with rehearsals conducted by the evening to review the preparations. The meeting was attended by the district magistrate S Rajalingam, additional police commissioner S Chinappa, municipal commissioner Akshat Verma, chief development officer Himanshu Nagpal, ADM City Alok Verma, and others.