Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Bhojpur district administration is busy giving finishing touches to its preparations at all the ghats for Chhath festivities. The DM and the SP held a meeting with all the officials concerned on October 23, 2017, to ensure a safe and peaceful Chhath Puja in the district. They said adequate number of officials have been assigned individual tasks for the festival and directed to maintain law and order at any cost.
DM Sanjeev Kumar and SP Awakash Kumar said they inspected all the ghats in Bhojpur district and have directed the officials to ensure safety and facility to the devotees and also maintain law and order at any cost. They added the ghats will be secured before the devotees arrive there for offering ‘arghya’ to the Sun god in the evening on October 26.
They said Bhojpur district has 58 ghats of which Collectorate pond, Gangi, Dharhara, Sapana Cinema mor, Powergnaj, New Police Line, Chandawa Sun temple, Dhobighatawa, Anaith, Ramgarhia are the major ghats located in and around Ara, headquarters of Bhojpur district.
Belaur Sun Temple in Udwantnagar, Baburwani, Goraya, Farhangpur, Jharkhandi Sthan (Khangaw) in Koelwar, Kewatiya, Piparpati, Balua, Sinha, Keshwpur, Nathamalpur, Mahuli, Gsnga ghat in Barhara, Shiva Jee Pokhara, Hematpur, Dalippur Dih, Dalippur Chhathia Pokhar, Dulaun, Kahthu, Masaurhi, Asani, Ayar, Kotwali Chowk in Jagdishpur, Mahathin Road Sun Temple, Kateya Road, Primary Health Centre Canal, Teghara, Dharsara Pokhar in Bihia, Barisawan, Kundeshwar, Belauti Sun Temple, Suhia, Sonvarsha Bhagad, Mahuar, Gaura in Shahpur, Bahari Mahadev, Ojhawalia Mor, Bagar Sun Temple, Sikarhatta in Piro, Sun Temple, Ituhari Sun Temple, Nonaur Sun Temple in Charpokhari, Chandi, Bakari in Sandesh, have also been identified as the major ghats in Bhojpur district. On the other hand, district administration has banned `arghya’ at TB Sanatorium, Bahiara, Mahadevchak, Semaria ghats due indiscriminate mining of sand from the Sone river at Koelwar and Chandi.
Both the officials said a number of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras are being installed to maintain round the clock vigil on the ghats and videographers are also being deputed at the major ghats which won’t have CCTVs cameras. They said Public address systems have been installed at all the major ghats. Bamboo barricading of major and dangerous ghats have been completed, the two officials said adding teams of NDRF with boats, inflated motorboat, life jackets and trained divers will do patrolling the Ganga and the Sone rivers and doctors, magistrates along with heavy police force have been deputed. Control Rooms have been set up and important numbers will be displayed.
The DM and SP said that sale, purchase and use of crackers at the ghat sites and ferrying of private boats on rivers has been banned. They directed the officials concerned to regulate traffic and provide security at the ghats. The DM has cancelled leaves of all the officials of the district and asked them not to leave the district headquarters without his permission during the festival.