Panchkula: Chhat Puja ghat along the Ghaggar river in Sector 21 has finally been cleared of construction and demolition (C&D) waste that had accumulated over the years, with the municipal corporation removing around 150 tonnes of debris from the site.The cleanup was carried out following a recent inspection by MC commissioner Vinay Kumar, who found the unpaved approach road to the river lined with heaps of construction waste. Officials said the dumping had increased over time, particularly after the introduction of S+4 construction in Panchkula, leading to large quantities of C&D waste being discarded near the riverbank.MC teams launched a special drive and removed waste lying on both sides of the path leading to the Chhat Puja ghat. Assistant sanitary inspector Rana Harvinder Singh said approximately 150 tonnes of garbage and construction debris were lifted during the operation.“Rivers are not dumping grounds,” commissioner Vinay Kumar said, stressing the need to keep riverbanks clean and protect water bodies from pollution. He appealed to residents, builders and agencies to avoid dumping construction waste near the Ghaggar river or other water bodies in the district.Environmental groups welcomed the move. Tapasya Sharma of Tarangini Foundation, which had been highlighting the issue for several years, said the removal of the waste was a significant step towards restoring the sanctity of the riverbank.
