The Patna district administration has started preparations for Chhath, which is hardly a month away.

District magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Agarwal on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting with officials concerned and ordered that preparations be complete before Diwali.

Agarwal has formed 21 teams, which would submit a report on the condition of 101 Chhath ghats and the work to be done. Each team will have one officer from the district administration and one engineer. 'As Chhath is the biggest festival of Bihar, we do not want to take any chance. That's the reason we have started preparing a month in advance,' Agarwal said.

The number of actual ghats, which devotees will visit to perform the rituals, will dip once the administration announces dangerous ghats. The administration has divided 101 ghats among three authorities. 'Names of dangerous ghats and facilities available at ghats will be announced much in advance so that devotees can plan their day accordingly,' Agarwal said.

Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (BUIDCo) will be responsible for 36 ghats from Nakta Diara to Golkapur. Similarly, 60 ghats will be looked after Patna Municipal Corporation from Law College Ghat to Mandir Ghat in Didarganj. Danapur Nagar Parishad will look after five ghats in Danapur.

'Work on approach roads must start from October 3 and be completed within the stipulated time-frame. But quality must be maintained,' Agarwal stressed. He also asked officials concerned to coordinate with Chhath committees.

Officials have instructed to make proper arrangements on ghats - watch towers to monitor the crowds, changing room for devotees, repair of damaged stairs, installation of public address system and deployment of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force.

Pontoon bridges will be built at Mahendru Ghat and Collectorate Ghat and once the water recedes, the approach road will be built on an urgent basis.

Patna Electric Supply Undertaking will look after lighting work. Accompanied by BUIDCo managing director Amrendra Prasad Singh and PMC officials, the Patna DM said parking arrangements must be made at the ghats.

Meeting related to security arrangement and deployment of police and magistrates on ghats will be held shortly.