Delhi Chhath Puja: BJP promises cleaner ghats and better facilities, accuses AAP of years of neglect

Delhi government prepares 1,482 Chhath puja ghats across 996 locations. Rekha Gupta highlights better facilities and Yamuna clean-up.

NewsBharati    14-Nov-2026 18:53:43 PM
Total Views |
Delhi has prepared 1,482 ghats across 996 locations for Chhath Puja this year, with the BJP government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta promising cleaner surroundings, better facilities and safer arrangements for devotees.
The preparations have also triggered a political comparison between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
 

Chhat 
(Chhat preparations in Delhi, this year devotees have cleaner ghats, Image: India TV) 
 
BJP has accused the previous government of neglecting Chhath arrangements, claiming that devotees were earlier left to deal with dirty water, poorly maintained ghats and inadequate facilities. The Rekha Gupta government says it wants to change that experience by focusing on ground-level work rather than publicity.
 
Chhath Puja is being observed from November 13 to 16, and the government says arrangements have been made to ensure that devotees can perform the rituals with dignity and without worrying about basic facilities.
 
1,482 ghats prepared across Delhi
 
This year, 1,482 ghats have been prepared at 996 locations across the national capital. These include 81 permanent ghats, 1,372 temporary ghats and 29 along the Yamuna. The number is higher than last year, according to the government.
 
The arrangements cover several important requirements, including clean surroundings, drinking water, toilets, lighting, changing rooms and proper access to the ghats. The government has also directed civic agencies to maintain cleanliness throughout the festival.
 
 
 
For thousands of families who gather at water bodies to offer prayers to the Sun God, these facilities are important to ensure that the festival can be celebrated without unnecessary difficulties.
 
11-km ghat developed along Munak Canal
 
One of the biggest projects highlighted by the BJP government is an 11-kilometre-long Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal, stretching from Shalimar Bagh to Inderlok.
 
The stretch had reportedly remained neglected for nearly two decades. Before developing the ghat, around 1,400 truckloads of garbage, debris and silt were removed from the area. Encroachments were also cleared.
 
The project, which cost approximately Rs 115.29 crore, includes permanent steps on both banks, paved roads, changing rooms, toilets, lighting, CCTV cameras, benches, fountains and green spaces.
 
Inaugurated by BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the ghat can accommodate more than 30,000 people at a time. It is expected to benefit residents across five Assembly constituencies.
 
The Delhi Jal Board is also supplying water to the canal from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant to support the Chhath arrangements.
 
Yamuna pollution remains a major challenge
 
The condition of the Yamuna remains one of the biggest concerns during Chhath Puja, as devotees traditionally gather along riverbanks to offer prayers and perform rituals.
 
To address this, the government has created artificial and filtered-water ghats at locations where the river remains heavily polluted. Vasudev Ghat is among the locations where such arrangements have been made.
 
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has claimed that around 26 kilometres of the Yamuna have been cleaned over the past 20 months. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has separately claimed that nearly 30 kilometres of the river stretch have been cleaned.
 
In October, the Centre launched Yamuna-cleaning projects worth approximately Rs 8,941 crore. The projects include new sewage treatment plants, decentralised treatment facilities and sewer networks.
 
The Chief Minister has also taken part in cleanliness drives at 70 ghats under the 'Chalo Yamuna' campaign. She has appealed to residents to become 'Yamuna Praharis' and take responsibility for keeping the river clean.
 
Toilets, drinking water and round-the-clock cleaning
 
Beyond the construction and cleaning work, the government has made arrangements for the daily needs of devotees.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have been assigned responsibility for cleaning the ghats and nearby areas. Cleaning teams will remain on duty round the clock, and special drives will continue even after the festival.
 
The Delhi Jal Board is arranging water tankers and drinking water facilities. The electricity department has been asked to ensure proper lighting at the ghats and on approach roads.
 
Mobile toilets, tents, bamboo barricades and safety railings have also been installed. Roads at selected locations have been widened to make it easier for devotees to reach the ghats. Cultural platforms and colourful murals have been added to the arrangements.
 
More than 5,000 police personnel deployed
 
Security arrangements have also been strengthened across Delhi. More than 5,000 police personnel have been deployed, with CCTV cameras and watchtowers being used to monitor crowds.
 
Traffic management, parking facilities and emergency routes have been planned to prevent congestion. Medical teams and ambulances will remain available at designated locations, while hospitals have been included in the emergency response arrangements.
 
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and ministers, including Parvesh Sahib Singh, have inspected the ghats and directed officials to ensure that the facilities remain operational throughout the festival. November 16 has also been declared a public holiday.
 
AAP’s legacy: A Yamuna still struggling with pollution
 
The miserable condition of the Yamuna remains one of the biggest questions facing Delhi's political leadership. Despite years of promises and repeated announcements by the previous AAP government, the river continues to struggle with pollution, untreated sewage, waste and contaminated stretches.
 
The contrast is particularly stark during Chhath Puja, when thousands of devotees gather near the river to offer prayers. A river that should be a source of faith and life has, in several stretches, become a symbol of administrative failure.
 
The BJP has accused AAP of failing to deliver on its promises to clean the Yamuna, arguing that publicity campaigns could not substitute for actual work on the ground. The latest cleaning drives and infrastructure projects may be steps towards addressing the problem.