Work for Chhath in progress at Khajekala Ghat in Patna City on Friday. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Oct. 28: The municipal commissioner, Pankaj Kumar Pal, today inspected preparations at more than 40 ghats that have been declared safe for Chhath Puja celebrations by the district administration.

Pal said he has instructed the civic body officials to work 24x7 to complete the preparations. Pal will also visit the ghats at night between 10pm and 2am.

He told The Telegraph: “Just few days are left for Chhath and I do not want to take any chances with the preparations. I have instructed the workers to continue the work at night.”

Pal added: “Manual work is not possible at several ghats and we are also faced with a manpower crunch. So, I have brought in 20 JCB machines to complete the ghat clean-up in time. We are using the JCB machines to dig temporary ponds at several ghats for the devotees to offer arghya. We need to give our best effort for Chhath preparations.”

Pal inspected Mahendru Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Pehalwan Ghat, Gandhi Ghat, Gai Ghat, Khajekala Ghat, Tripolia Ghat, Pathri Ghat and Bhadra Ghat among others from a steamer under Patna Sadar and Patna City sub-divisions.

On the difficulties at the ghats, Pal said: “Arranging bamboos to construct boundaries at the safe ghats was proving difficult but the building construction department came to our help.”

District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh also inspected preparations at the ghats today and said: “The district administration, along with Patna Municipal Corporation and irrigation department, is digging temporary ponds at ghats. I hope this will solve the problems for the devotees.”