Canal a dump while Chhath nears

NEW DELHI: It’s one of the main sites for Chhath Puja in north Delhi. But the Haiderpur canal has turned into a garbage dump in most parts and, with less than 10 days left for the festival, locals are worried that this time they will have to visit other, faraway, spots. This is because government agencies seem to have no plan for a cleanup in sight.
The sub-canal, which enters Delhi from Rithala, is used by the Haryana irrigation department to release excess water into the capital. Supply to this canal was stopped due to Metro work. But Haryana now plans to release water for the puja.
BJP MLA from Wazirpur, Mahinder Nagpal, says the Delhi government is yet to start cleaning the canal. “As there was no water in the canal, it had turned into a dumping site. And, despite repeated reminders, the government agencies are yet to start the work. Not much time is left for the festival and if nothing is done in the next few days it will be difficult to host the puja here. This has been one of the main puja sites in north Delhi,’’ said Nagpal, who has written to lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.
While the job of maintaining the canal is with Haryana, its officials say sanitation work must be done by local civic agencies. However, at a time when the government is busy with the sanitation drive, little effort is being made to clean this canal that passes through seven-eight residential areas. With Haryana planning to release water, locals fear it’s going to be a mess. “It’s extremely dirty and will take at least a week to clean. Also, arrangements have to be made as the place will be visited by lakhs. Not much time is left for the puja and work is yet to start,” Kishore Jha, a resident of Ashok Vihar, said.
On Friday, Nagpal met Delhi government chief secretary D M Spolia. “I have requested him to direct district magistrates to look into the matter. People have been coming to us with requests to get the canal cleaned so they can start Chhath preparations. Arrangements for puja can start only after the area is cleaned up,” Nagpal said.
A senior Delhi government official said, “We will look into the matter and direct the agency concerned.”
The BJP-led North Corporation now says it will clean up the drain, though “it is Delhi government’s responsibility to clean it”. Mayor Yogender Chandolia said, “In case the government doesn’t clean it up, we will deploy our staff. As part of PM’s initiative, we want entire Delhi to be clean.”