Ranchi: With barely a week left for
Chhath Puja, (RMC) officials are struggling to clear around major ponds, where makeshift huts, parked vehicles, and debris have blocked access to several ghats. Despite cleaning and repair works being carried out on a war footing, encroachments are slowing down preparations across the city.
At Bahubazar Talab, clusters of small shanties have come up along the boundary, while at Jail Talab, open spaces meant for public movement have turned into an informal parking area. Several families near Bahubazar said they have been using the area for years for basic household chores. “We don’t have any other place to go. We just sit here, sometimes play cards or wash clothes. We are poor, so we manage with whatever space we get,” said Ramesh Das, who lives in one of the makeshift huts near the pond.
Similar issues persist at Karamtoli Talab and Joda Talab, where civic workers say continuous human activity is affecting cleanliness and water quality. At Joda Talab, locals have been using the pond for washing and bathing, leading to contamination and sludge buildup. “The water has become dirty because people use it daily for household work. Only nearby residents live around here now, and they treat the pond like a washing area,” said Ravi Kumar, a passerby near the site
RMC officials said these small encroachments are among the biggest challenges in preparing ghats ahead of the festival rush. “Temporary huts and parked vehicles restrict access for cleaning equipment and delay repair work. Desilting, lighting, and fencing cannot be completed properly when the area is occupied,” said an RMC official supervising the site on anonymity
After reviewing the situation on Wednesday, RMC Administrator Sushant Gaurav directed officials to act with zero tolerance against illegal occupation. “All unauthorized structures around ponds must be cleared immediately to ensure devotees can perform rituals safely,” he said.
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