Patna: Patna is preparing to celebrate Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja in an eco-friendly way this year. The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started a special campaign to keep the city and the Ganga river clean during the festival season. For the first time, ten artificial ponds will be created at different ghats in the city where idols and worship materials can be immersed safely.
Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said that the aim of this campaign is to celebrate the festival with responsibility towards the environment. He explained that by using these artificial ponds, pollution in the Ganga can be reduced and the city can remain clean even during busy festival days. The Commissioner also appealed to all citizens and puja committees to cooperate with the corporation and use only the designated ponds for immersions.
Patna Municipal Corporation has already selected the places for these ponds. In the Patliputra Zone, artificial ponds will be made at Digha Ghat and Pati Pul Ghagh. In Patna City Zone, they will be made at Kangan Ghat, Kila Ghat, and Damrahi Ghat. In Azimabad Zone, ponds will be built at Bhadra Ghat (East), Bhadra Ghat (West), Chitragupta Talab, and Gai Ghat. For Lakshmi Puja, arrangements have been made at Bhadra Ghat, Mahavir Ghat, and Digha Ghat.
The corporation is also running a campaign to make the festival plastic-free. Special teams will be deployed at the ghats to spread awareness and motivate people not to use plastic bags, wrappers, and other items that pollute the environment. PMC has warned that strict action and fines will be imposed if idols or puja materials are immersed anywhere other than the artificial ponds.
These steps are expected to keep both the Ganga and the city clean while allowing people to celebrate their festivals with joy. The corporation hopes that this will encourage citizens to adopt more environment-friendly practices during festivals in the future.
