NGT allows Chhath Puja rituals in Rabindra Sarovar

TIL Desk National/Kolkata/ The National Green Tribunal, East Zone, today allowed Chhath Puja rituals at Rabindra Sarovar, a 73-acre lake in south Kolkata, for this year following a plea by Kolkata Municipal Corporation and representatives of the Bihari community.

The NGT bench comprising Justice (retd) S P Wangdi and Professor P C Mishra directed that the rituals can be held at designated places by the lake which should be cordoned off so as to ensure that the water of the lake does not suffer from pollution owing to offerings like flowers, fruits and other materials.

The 30,000-odd devotees in the southern part of the city would be allowed to dip their feet in the water and offer water to the God as part of the rituals, the NGT bench said in an order applicable for this year only.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) moved the plea before the NGT following its earlier order banning Chhath Puja rituals at the Rabindra Sarobar Lake, which is part of National Lake Conservation Plan of Government of India, to prevent pollution of the lake and the surrounding manicured gardens and sprawling grounds.