Pune Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee has approved a proposal for a permanent annual policy and dedicated budget allocation for Chhath Puja arrangements, including artificial ponds, temporary ghats, security, sanitation and women’s facilities across the city.
The proposal was tabled by corporator and Standing Committee member Suhas Vijay Tingre. It calls for the civic body to plan and implement arrangements every year instead of relying on last-minute preparations for the four-day festival, during which large numbers of devotees gather near rivers, lakes and other water bodies.
Under the proposal, the PMC would conduct site inspections to identify suitable locations and construct artificial ponds and temporary ghats wherever required. The arrangements would also include cleaning, waste management and dedicated collection of puja offerings, known as nirmalya, at the designated sites.
The plan seeks basic public amenities such as safe drinking water, water tankers, lighting, generators, directional signboards and separate changing rooms for women. It also proposes CCTV cameras, barricades, fire brigade personnel, police security, lifeguards and medical teams at locations where celebrations are held.
Traffic management and dedicated parking arrangements would be introduced wherever necessary. The proposal further recommends a single-window system for permissions sought by Chhath Puja organising committees and the appointment of nodal officers to coordinate between different PMC departments.
The proposed policy would also involve Chhath Puja committees, social organisations and local residents in the planning process. The proposal recommends that preparations begin at least one month before the festival, with the aim of avoiding the administrative rush that can accompany temporary arrangements.
Chhath Puja, also known as Chhath Mahaparv, is an important religious and cultural festival, particularly among North Indian communities. Devotees traditionally offer prayers to the Sun God at water bodies, making access, water quality, lighting, crowd control and emergency response central to the civic planning challenge.
The proposal refers to arrangements made by the municipal corporations of Mumbai and Thane as a model for Pune to consider. However, the report does not specify the amount of the proposed annual budget allocation, the number of locations to be selected or a confirmed implementation schedule for the policy.
Tingre said the civic corporation had a responsibility to ensure that residents could follow their religious beliefs and cultural traditions safely and with dignity. He said the objective was to avoid the annual last-minute rush and create a permanent policy supported by adequate financial provisions.
The Standing Committee’s approval advances the proposal within the PMC’s civic planning process. Further decisions on the policy, locations, funding and departmental responsibilities will determine how the arrangements are implemented in subsequent years.
