The Times of India          07.11.2013

Varanasi Municipal Corporation expedites cleaning work on ghats

VARANASI: After the district magistrate Pranjal Yadav got miffed over the poor state of the ghats on Tuesday, the officials of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation are camping on the city ghats in order to get them in shape before the festivities of Dala Chhath which commences on Wednesday and would end on Friday.

Speaking from the Assi Ghat, the municipal commissioner Umakant Tripathi said the local body is leaving no stone unturned for betterment of the ghats before the puja begins. "As many as 65 additional workers have been deployed to expedite the work. More than 30 donkeys are being used for disposing off silt as the condition here is not suitable for vehicles to reach here for the purpose," said the official further adding that number of pumps have also been increased to clean the ghats.

Almost all the ghats along the banks of the Ganga are reeling under silt deposition after the floods, especially the Assi and Samne Ghats that still have heavy silt deposition. "Apart from the Assi, Samne, Bhadaini and some other ghats, most of the major ghats including the Rajendra Prasad, Dashashwamedh Ghats have already been cleaned," said Tripathi.

According to the official, as many as 60 pumps have already been deployed for the purpose. Special emphasis is been given for the cleaning of Assi and Ravidas Ghat in the wake of the upcoming Ganga Mahotsava.

It is to be mentioned here that mayor Ramgopal Mohale recently lamented VMC officials for the poor sate of affairs, especially lack of cleanliness and sanitation in the city and on the ghats. The mayor had also asked for the details of procedure and purpose of expenditure to the tune of Rs one crore in the name of cleaning of ghats in two years.

It must be mentioned here that the VMC, of late, had remained focussed on the world famous Dashashwamedh while other adjoining ghats including Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sheetala and Panchganga Ghats, the southern pucca ghats, including the famous Asi Ghat were found neglected. The efforts to get rid of heavy deposition of silt were found lacking on vast stretch of areas near Asi ghat, Tulsi ghat, Malviya Ghat, Ganga Mahal Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Kedar Ghat.

Trail of silt, garbage, slippery mud and aquatic plants were found covering the stairs of northern ghats as well after the immersion of idols during the Durga Puja. In fact, all through the Pitra Paksha, where in the ghats play a very important role in the rituals, devotees were forced to perform the rituals amidst insanitation prevailing on ghats.