After Durga Puja and Diwali, it's time to focus on Chhath.
Bokaro Steel's town administration department and the district authorities are busy cleaning up banks of rivers and ponds, where Chhath devotees will offer arghya to the sun god during the festival beginning November 4.
The cleanliness drive is being carried out across 10 water reservoirs in the city, while Chas Municipal Corporation is busy giving final touches to seven major ghats of Garga river, where more than 2 lakh devotees will flock during the four-day festival. The municipal corporation has roped in several NGOs for the clean-up drive.
The 10 water reservoirs in the city include Surya Sarovar, just opposite the administrative building, Surya Mandir pond at Sector IV-F, ponds at sector V-C, Jagganath temple campus, City park pond, Cooling Pond at Vaishali More, ponds at Rani Pokhar and Sector XI. Out of these, only Surya Sarovar is ready to host the faithful.
"The major ghats where people offer arghya have been earmarked. There is high-level of respect and sanctity attached to the festival. Hence, the district administration is not taking up any chances," said Bokaro deputy commissioner R.M. Ray, who also went to inspect one of the ghats of river Garga in Chas on Tuesday.
Apart from the clean-up, barricading of ghats along Solagdih pond and Joriadih pond and a few spots at Garga river has also begun.
Besides the Bokaro steel city and Chas township, the deputy commissioner has also asked the officials concerned to ensure that cleanliness drive are carried out at Bermo, Nawadih, Petarwar, Kasmar, Gomia, Tenughat, Chandrapura and Chadankyari and adopt safety measures for hassle-free celebrations. Ray has also directed Chas municipal executive officer Krishna Kumar and Chas SDO Shashi Ranjan to see to it that none of the ghats, especially those between Garga dam and Chira Chas, remained unclean and without barricades.
Notwithstanding the major clean-up drive, several residents were seen dumping garbage near a pond at Sector V opposite Ayappa Temple on Tuesday.
Asked, Manikant Dhan, chief of communications of Bokaro steel plant, said: "We are doing our best to clean the ponds and water reservoirs for Chhath. All the arrangements will be completed before the festival. It is now up to the residents of Bokaro to keep the city clean."
