Delhi is set to get its longest Chhath Ghat on Thursday, with BJP national president Nitin Nabin scheduled to inaugurate an nearly 11-km-long stretch along the Munak Canal, PTI reported.
The ghat is located near Singalpur village in the Shalimar Bagh area of North Delhi.
To ensure devotees have access to clean water and an uninterrupted flow during , water will be released from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant (WTP) into the Munak Canal, (DJB) officials told PTI.
Delhi Chief Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a clean flow of water through the canal. She added that fountains would be installed at several locations.
“The most striking features of the ghat are its extensive 11 km stretch and planned development. Permanent steps and cemented roads are being constructed along both banks of the canal to ensure that Chhath devotees and visitors can reach the ghats and perform their prayers without difficulty,” Gupta said in a statement.
Changing rooms, toilets, tents and adequate lighting will also be provided for the convenience of devotees. CCTV cameras have been installed to ensure security along the stretch. Benches, greenery and beautification work are also part of the development.
The development comes after the Delhi government cleared encroachments along the canal banks and decided to develop the area into an organised Chhath Ghat.
The government undertook an extensive cleaning drive to restore the canal, which was earlier surrounded by garbage, debris and overgrown vegetation. Around 1,400 truckloads of debris, waste and other accumulated filth were removed from the stretch, according to the chief minister’s statement.
Gupta, who visited the site several times to review the project, said the BJP government had transformed the canal’s appearance in just a year after years of neglect.
The ghat is expected to benefit thousands of families across five assembly constituencies — Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur, Model Town, Adarsh Nagar and Badli.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) inspected ghats across the national capital on Wednesday to review sanitation, security and other arrangements for devotees.
Officials were directed to ensure the timely removal of construction and demolition waste, install adequate dustbins, and make separate arrangements for collecting and disposing of puja offerings, according to a PTI report.
Water sprinklers will be deployed to control dust at the ghats. Nodal officers have also been appointed in each zone to address complaints and resolve issues within a fixed timeframe.
The Chhath festival will be celebrated from November 13 to 16, beginning with ‘Nahay-Khay’ and concluding with ‘Usha Arghya’.
