Asansol’s river and pond ghats will receive CCTV cameras, high-power lighting and a dedicated nodal officer each during Kali Puja immersions and Chhath observances, after the Paschim Bardhaman administration ordered tighter safety arrangements ahead of the festivals.
The measures were announced after a high-level meeting in Asansol on Saturday, held a week before Kali Puja. State minister Arjun Singh, who has been assigned responsibility for monitoring administrative arrangements in Paschim Bardhaman, said every ghat would have surveillance and an officer responsible for coordination and oversight.
The decision follows a fatal incident during Durga Puja at Chorbagaon, in which 19 people died, according to the report. The administration has also referred to an incident on the fourth of the month in which two members of the same family drowned. Officials said the incidents had prompted additional caution around public gatherings and water bodies during the upcoming festivals.
Before the meeting, municipal minister Agnimitra Pal inspected several river ghats in Asansol with officials from the irrigation department. Discussions covered the navigability and water conditions of rivers, as well as cleanliness in areas adjoining the ghats. The Asansol municipal authorities had also arranged measures to remove waste from the riverfronts.
The administration directed officials to maintain special surveillance at every ghat to prevent accidents and other untoward incidents during idol immersion and Chhath-related activities. The proposed deployment of nodal officers is intended to give each location a designated official responsible for monitoring arrangements and responding to issues during the festival period.
Pal said the administration was taking lessons from the Chorbagaon incident and arranging CCTV cameras and lighting at all ghats. She also urged residents to remain alert and cooperate with safety measures. The plan covers both new and existing Kali Puja celebrations, with Arjun Singh stating that permission would be granted for such pujas by the government.
The arrangements will be implemented at the river and pond ghats used for Kali Puja immersion and Chhath observances in Paschim Bardhaman. The administration’s immediate focus is on surveillance, illumination, cleanliness, water conditions and designated on-site responsibility before the festivals begin.
