Chhath devotees concerned as ghats in deplorable condition in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: The ghats on the banks of rivers Ganga and Sone as well as a large number of ponds in Bhojpur district have not been cleaned yet. The ghats have become quite unsafe due to continuous erosion. To make matters worse this year, the devotees will have to walk at least two kilometre to reach the mainstream of the Ganga as the river has changed its course further northwards from its ghats at Sinha and Barhara.

A social activists, Hareram Singh says, “ The district administration has turned a Nelson’s eye towards the Chhath Ghats.” Bhojpur DM Birendra Prasad Yadav said that almost all the ghats in Barahra, Sinha, Sandesh and  Sahar had been declared dangerous and warned the people to remain cautious and perform Chhath just at the bank. According to sources, the ghats in Sinha, Barahara, Jagdishpur, Sahar, Sandesh, Koelwar and Ara are in worst condition. The Sone canal flowing through Ara is contaminated as the dirty water flowing from sewage drains of the town fall into it.

A resident Jawar Tola, Ara, Sumitra Devi, said, “If the administration fails to put bamboo strips or pontoon bridge over the canal, the devotees will have to face a lot of inconvenience in reaching the other side of the canal.”

At Ara Collectorate pond at least 10,000 devotees perform Chhath every year but  the district administration has not cleaned the pond so far. The district administration encircled the pond adding to the woes of the devotees. The local people themselves are cleaning the area and preparing the ghats for the purpose.

The ghats at Sinha and Barahara have also become extremely dangerous due to erosion. Moreover, the devotees will have to wade through mud and filth. At Gangi, where bodies are cremated, pieces of cloths and half burnt wood can be seen scattered all around. The deplorable conditions of majority of ghats, marshy land along the banks and polluted water have spoiled the occasion.

Mayor, Ara Municipal Corporation (AMC), Sunil Kumar, said that cleaning of ghats and removal of filth and garbage were going on. The Mayor said he and his team members were keeping vigil round the clock to ensure the devotees do  not face any difficulty during the festival.

DM, Bhojpur, Birednra Prasad Yadav claimed elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Chhath and added that dangerous ghats had been identified and special attention would be given to them. NDRF teams, doctors, magistrates, police force would be deployed and use of crackers at the ghats and ferrying of boats on Chhath day would be completely banned.