Muzaffarpur, Oct. 28: Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation has launched a cleanliness and sanitation drive of the ghats to help Chhath devotees offer arghya on November 1 and 2.

The corporation has swung into action and pressed motor machines to drain out contaminated water from ponds and pools located at different sites in the town. Personnel of Nidan, a civic agency that has been roped in for the sanitation drive, will be responsible for cleaning the ghats.

Mayor Bimla Devi Tulsiyan expressed displeasure over the poor upkeep of the ghats and directed the civic officials as well as Nidan personnel, to work all night to make the ghats, which are situated on the banks of Budhi Gandak, ready for Chhath.

Muzaffarpur MLA Suresh Kumar Sharma, who inspected the ghats ahead of Chhath, deplored the pitiable condition of the banks.

The MLA requested district magistrate Santosh Kumar Mall, Tulsiyan and corporation commissioner Madhu Gupta to launch the cleanliness campaign on a war footing. The MLA, at the same time, asked senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajesh Kumar to put a ban on plying of country boats on Budhi Gandak near the ghats during the festival.

The SSP added that women cops, besides policemen, would be deployed in adequate number, in the vicinity of the ghats to prevent eve-teasing and snatching incidents.

Additional municipal corporation commissioner Arun Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “The drive has been started in full swing. The corporation would leave no stone unturned in providing the devotees the best facility during Chhath.”

Ponds filled with contaminated water are being cleaned.”