Chief minister Nitish Kumar during his inspection of the Ganga ghats on Sunday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Oct. 23: Chief minister Nitish Kumar inspected the Ganga ghats today ahead of Chhath and directed officials concerned to clean them in the next two days.

Expressing disappointment over the condition of the ghats — he visited over 70 of them on a steamer — Nitish directed district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh, divisional commissioner K.P. Ramaiah, Patna Municipal Corporation commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal and other officials to make proper arrangements at the Chhath ghats. Officials will also have to ensure that devotees do not face problems while offering arghya (obeisance) to the sun god.

Nitish visited the ghats under the civic body’s jurisdiction with deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, urban development and housing minister Prem Kumar, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav, water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and energy minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav.

At Collectorate Ghat, Nitish voiced concerns on slush. He said: “I have given the road construction department the responsibility to take care of the slush. This ghat is quite famous and large crowd assemble here to offer obeisance.”

Nitish also directed Pal, Singh and Ramaiah to make proper arrangements for divers, identify dangerous ghats and ensure proper lighting, adequate security and appropriate traffic management. Some of the dangerous ghats will also be barricaded to prevent mishaps. Nitish added: “Temporary ponds will be dug at ghats that are not in good shape.”

The civic body commissioner was directed to ensure levelling and filling up of ditches at the ghats. The chief minister also asked the officials concerned to make arrangements for drinking water at different ghats.