Kolkata is preparing 50 natural ponds and five artificial water bodies for Chhath Puja, with civic authorities adding walkways, lighting, barricades, watchtowers and emergency response measures after devotees were redirected from Rabindra Sarobar.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority are readying ghats across south Kolkata and neighbouring areas, according to officials quoted by the Times of India. The arrangements include cleaning water bodies, creating pathways, installing barricades and providing adequate lighting at locations expected to receive large numbers of devotees.
State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said the preparations also included police watchtowers, rescue boats, divers, ambulances and spare vehicles. The measures are intended to manage crowd movement and respond to emergencies at the ponds and artificial water bodies being used for the rituals.
The KMC parks department has prepared 50 natural ponds and five artificial ponds. Three of these water bodies are being positioned to serve devotees who earlier performed Chhath rituals at Rabindra Sarobar. The change follows the state’s revised plan concerning the use of the lake for Chhath Puja.
A KMC official said devotees from a particular region of south Kolkata who previously went to Rabindra Sarobar were now choosing other nearby locations. These include Kumir Pukur in Golf Garden, a large pond in Jodhpur Park and an artificial pond in Kalighat. The shift places greater importance on the readiness of local water bodies and the ability of civic agencies to provide safe access close to residential neighbourhoods.
The civic body has also kept three large ponds ready for an estimated 20,000 devotees. Two are located in Kudghat and one is in Bramhapur in Bansdroni. Their preparation is part of the wider effort to distribute devotees across multiple sites rather than concentrate the rituals at a single urban lake.
The arrangements make water-body management a central part of Kolkata’s festival planning. Cleaning, lighting, controlled access and emergency deployment will determine how safely devotees can reach the ghats and conduct rituals. Officials said the preparations were focused mainly on south Kolkata, where the KMC has identified the largest operational requirement.
The reported measures will remain dependent on coordination between the municipal corporation, KMDA, police and emergency personnel at the individual locations. The immediate civic milestone is the completion and operation of the prepared ponds, ghats and safety facilities for devotees during Chhath Puja.
