On October 16, the Calcutta High Court had ordered the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) to bear the cost of cleaning the ghats equally after the post-Pujas immersion process. KMC was also asked not to allow accumulation of filth on the ghats along the Hooghly. The Puja committees were required to pay up the civic body.
Usually, the KMC spends almost Rs 1.25 to 1.50 crore every year during the immersion process. "Immersions will continue till November, therefore, we have not begun calculations for this year," said Faiyaz Ahmed Khan, Member Mayor-in-Council of Parks and Gardens department. There are almost 1,500 immersions every year, with 1,200 community Pujas, said Khan. "We charge a nominal amount of Rs 1,600 from each committee," he said.
KMC officials claim that KoPT has not taken any initia tives yet. "There has hardly been any participation from their end," said Khan.
B K Sahu, spokesperson for KoPT, said: "I have no clue whether the High Court papers are with us. I cannot say anything about the immersion process."
The condition of the ghats after Lakshmi Puja was far from satisfactory. Although six KMC workers are monitoring Babughat day and night, the condition of the nearby Rani Rashmoni ghat is quite dismal.
Source:The Indian Express,29-10-07
