Delhi Govt Gears Up for Chhath Puja; Single-Window Clearance from Oct 15
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra announces single-window clearance from Oct 15 and enhanced facilities at Chhath ghats for devotees.
The Delhi government has officially kicked off its preparations to ensure a smooth and celebratory Chhath Puja this year. In a high-level review meeting held at the Delhi Secretariat on Monday, Art, Culture and Languages Minister Kapil Mishra laid out a comprehensive roadmap to manage the massive influx of devotees at various riverbanks and ghats across the capital.
Simplified Permissions via Single-Window System
To ease the burden on festival organisers, the government is introducing a Single Clearance Window system. Starting from October 15, organisers will be able to obtain all necessary permissions from various departments through this streamlined process, eliminating the need to navigate multiple government offices individually.
Minister Kapil Mishra emphasized that this initiative is designed to make the administrative process more efficient and user-friendly for those managing the festivities.
Comprehensive Ghat Management and Safety
The review meeting saw participation from a wide array of key agencies, including the Delhi Jal Board, MCD, PWD, DDA, Delhi Police, Traffic Police, Fire Department, and BSES. The Minister directed these departments to work in close coordination to finalize all arrangements well in advance of the festival.
The government's priority list for the Chhath ghats includes:
- Essential Utilities: Provision of clean drinking water and mobile toilets.
- Medical Support: Deployment of ambulances and medical facilities at key locations.
- Safety and Security: Strict fire safety protocols and enhanced security presence to prevent anti-social activities.
- Infrastructure: Ensuring cleanliness, proper lighting, and effective traffic management to handle the crowds.
Free Power and Cultural Celebrations
In a move to support the devotees, the government has decided to provide electricity connections and free power supply at the ghats and other designated venues. This ensures that the rituals can be performed without any disruption due to power issues.
Furthermore, the Minister revealed that the government plans to host an increased number of cultural programmes during the Chhath Puja festivities this year. The goal is to create a vibrant atmosphere while maintaining a focus on peaceful and orderly celebrations.
"The focus will be on providing better facilities to devotees while ensuring that the celebrations remain peaceful and orderly," the Minister stated, adding that strict action would be taken against any anti-social elements attempting to disrupt the sanctity of the festival.