Silt on ghat steps troubles devotees, tourists

VARANASI: Although with the decrease in level of Ganga, the business in and around the ghats is limping back to normalcy but the heaps of silt deposited on the steps is posing difficulties for the people thronging the ghats.

The silt accumulated at the steps of Mir Ghat, Lalita Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Lali Ghat, Chowki Ghat, Mansarovar Ghat and others is marring the beauty of famed riverfront and also making it difficult for devotees and tourists to walk.

The steps along the embankments were found loaded with silt. Heaps of silt could be seen accumulated at ghats, making it difficult to stroll. Residents of the area informed that those visiting the ghats were having a tough time moving from one ghat to another. "We overheard a few foreigners describing the condition of ghats as appalling. They held on to each other while walking on steps covered with silt," a boatman said.

A priest at Dashaswamedh Ghat said: "It is really shameful that no efforts are being made to make the ghats clean."

Besides, while taking a stroll on Man Mahal Ghat, one could see a boat dumped at a stone platform towards Mir Ghat, hardly leaving any scope for the tourists and locals to trudge from Man Mahal Ghat to other ghats on the stretch. "We saw a group of tourists struggling and almost risking their life to cross Man Mahal Ghat due to this boat positioned in a slipshod manner," a tea vendor said.

Desiltation is yet to be started by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) authorities. The civic body seems to depends on social and non-profit organizations who have adopted ghats for maintenance and beautification.

Mayor Ramgopal Mohley convened a meeting of representatives of these organizations in presence of officials of corporation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to direct them about cleanliness drives to be carried out at their respective ghats.

Taking note of festivals like Durga Puja, Dev Deepawali and Chhath Puja, Mohley stressed on removal of deposited silt and said that it desiltation drive should be carried out so that devotees thronging the ghats do not face problems while performing rituals. He then asked representatives of organization to prepare a full fledged work plan so that work can be carried out effectively. He sought information regarding details of work carried out at ghats adopted by them.

The mayor asked the officials of JICA to prepare a detailed report by September 15, stating the number of projects conducted and current condition of ghats. The details should also comprise the amount of silt deposited, types of resources required for its removal. Besides this, the officials were also asked to apprise him of ongoing works concerning the public awareness.

The representatives of voluntary organizations suggested that they would like to have specific directions revealing the kind and amount of work to be carried out at ghats for maintenance and beautification.

To this, mayor asked the corporation officials to ensure that the details of the same should be provided to the organizations soon.