|
|
|
|
Patna,(BiharTimes): The Patna district administration’s decision to declare 23 out of 70 ghats unsafe for Chhath Puja, including the centrally-located Collectorate Ghat, Anta Ghat, Bankipore Ghat, B N College Ghat and Jahaj Ghat has come as a shock to the devotees as never before in the recent years they have been barred from offering arghya (obeisance) to the Sun God on the plea of being dangerous. |
Not only are these ghats situated in the heart of Patna they have good parking space and are in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan.
Devotees are critical of the district administration and Patna Municipal Corporation for not properly maintaining such important ghats of the state capital.
According to the district magistrate of Patna Sanjay Kumar Singh Chhath devotees should use only safe ghats. He said the ghats identified as dangerous have too much slush, which can act like quick sand. The other problems are the sudden rise in water level of the Ganga and the quality of water.
Eight ghats of Patna City sub-division have been declared dangerous. They are Jhauganj Ghat, Chimni Ghat, Heernand Shah Ghat, Kila Ghat, Kachhi Ghat, Adrakh Ghat, Piramdariya Ghat and Naya Panchmukhi Chauraha Ghat.
Similarly, 10 ghats of Danapur sub-division have been declared dangerous. They are Banpar Toli Ghat, Narial Ghat, Daldali Ghat, Chaudrana Ghat, Chaitola Ghat, Naasriganj Ghat, B S College Ghat, Jhunjhunwala Ghat, Badi Machuatoli Ghat and Choti Machuatoli Ghat.
As the dangerous ghats have been barricaded and warning boards would be installed near them there would be huge rush at the other ghats of Patna like Gandhi Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, Krishna Ghat and Gai Ghat.
Chhath devotees questioned the lukewarm response of the Patna district administration. One of them said that the Collectorate ghat is one of the safest as he has been offering arghya for last many years.
The administration as well as the PMC failed to maintain the ghats even though media repeatedly raised the issue. A few days back contractors refused to take up the work to clean the ghats as they have not been paid last years’s money.
Even the chief minister Nitish Kumar personally took a trip on boat to inspect some of the ghats.
comments...
|
|
