Jamshedpur: With Monsoon filling up the otherwise parched adjoining rivers of Kharkhai and Subernarekha this year the district administration has taken slew of measures to prevent mishap on Chhath festival.
In the light of devotees traditionally offering prayers to the Sun god dipping into the river the administration has resolved to identify safe places (Chhat ghats) for offering prayers at the two rivers. Besides, the administration has decided to depute divers and life jackets in adequate strength at Chhat ghats.
In this connection, a meeting was held at the sub divisional office wherein various agencies of the government along with town division officials of Jusco, city based utility services company, were present to prepare safety measures ahead of the popular festival. �In view of the filled up rivers we are taking precautionary measures to ensure safety at the Chhat ghats,� said Prem Ranjan, SDO, Dhalbhum.
The administration will embark on spot-inspection of the 42 chhath ghats along with Jamshedpur Central Peace Committee member on October 26.
In the light of devotees traditionally offering prayers to the Sun god dipping into the river the administration has resolved to identify safe places (Chhath ghats) for offering prayers at the two rivers. Besides, the administration has decided to depute divers and life jackets in adequate strength at Chhat ghats.
� In view of the filled up rivers we are taking precautionary measures to ensure safety at the Chhat ghats,� said SDO, Dhalbhum. Administration is barricading the danger zones and also putting up sign boards to caution the revelers visiting the riverbanks.
Particularly, Jusco has been asked to provide electricity and make lighting arrangement in the low laying areas of the city, or for that matter, at the approaching paths to the two rivers. Similar responsibility has been given to Tata Motors to take care of Telco. Jusco has been given charge of cleaning and putting of lights at major ghats in Hume Pipe and Bhuiyandih (in Sitaramdera), Sonari, Kadma, and Sakchi, automobile major Tata Motors has been entrusted with Hudco and Hurlung ponds.
Administration is barricading the danger zones and also putting up sign boards to caution the revelers visiting the riverbanks.In 2006, eight youths, including three teenagers had drowned into the Subernarekha river here on Chhat causing much embarrassment to the administration, then.
Ironically, in the wake of parched river, the government had issued directive to the Chandil dam to release water in the Subernarekha river a day ahead of Chhat on last year.
�This year the situation is just opposite so we are making adequate arrangements to make the festival an incident free celebration,� said a district administration official.
In addition to this, several of the non government agencies are carrying out cleaning drive at the riverbanks to make the place clean for the devotees.
�At Kharkai riverbank are we have identified few Chhat ghats were our volunteers are carrying out the cleaning drive ahead of the festival,� said Manoranjan Singh.
