Kolkata: As the state revised its earlier plan to allow Chhath Puja rituals at Rabindra Sarobar, KMC and KMDA are readying 50 ghats in south Kolkata and surrounding areas alongside artificial water bodies.State urban development & municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said eco-friendly measures and safety steps were being taken, including cleaning the water bodies, setting up barricades and pathways with adequate lighting, police watchtowers, rescue boats, divers, ambulances and spare vehicles. Officials said that KMC’s main focus was on south Kolkata. The KMC parks department has prepared 50 natural ponds and five artificial ponds for devotees. There are three ponds that will cater to the needs of Chhath devotees who earlier would have observed the rituals at Rabindra Sarobar.“We have seen that Chhath devotees from a particular region in south Kolkata who would earlier go to Sarobar now prefer going to Kumir Pukur in Golf Garden, a large pond in Jodhpur Park and an artificial pond in Kalighat,” said a KMC official.KMC has also kept ready three large ponds — two in Kudghat and one in Bramhapur, Bansdroni — for around 20,000 devotees.
