The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has set up 42 artificial ponds and ghats across the state capital as Chhath festivities are set to conclude on Monday.

According to KMC officials, the artificial ponds will be set up as Kolkata’s two big lakes – Subhas Sarovar and Rabindra Sarovar – will remain out of bounds for the festivities. In 2017, the National Green Tribunal had prohibited religious rituals and social events around the two lakes.

The artificial ponds and ghats have been set up in areas like Kidderpore, EM Bypass, Golf Gardens, Kasba, Patuli, Tollygunge, Ballygunge and Beliaghata, among others.

Maninder Singh, national president of Rashtriya Bihari Samaj, said of the ghats being readied for Chhath, some were permanent ones while others were temporary. Singh also said that facilities like changing rooms, toilets and ambulance services will be offered to ensure safety and convenience of women devotees visiting the ghats during Chhath.

Earlier this week, state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim had said that “people coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were an integral part of the city”.

(Srestha Choudhary is an intern at The Indian Express, Kolkata)