Bhopal Civic Body Issues Show-Cause Notices to Three Officials Over Poor Cleanliness at Chhath Ghats

Senior BMC officials found piles of garbage, plastic waste, and poor lighting at multiple ghats ahead of the Chhath Puja celebrations.

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Officials Pulled Up After Surprise Inspection

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued show-cause notices to three civic officials for negligence in maintaining cleanliness at over 52 Chhath Puja ghats across the city. The action follows a surprise inspection conducted by senior BMC officers on Saturday, just days before the festival.

Those served notices include Assistant Health Officer (AHO) Ankit Gautam, who oversees Zone 6, and Sanitary Inspectors Saurabh Chauhan (Ward 29) and Raju Khare (Ward 26).

According to officials, the inspection revealed severe lapses in sanitation and maintenance. At Bansal Ghat, heaps of garbage and scattered litter were found. Police Line Ghat had broken glass bottles, overgrown bushes, and waste strewn around, while Prempura Ghat was covered in dust and plastic debris.

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Orders for Immediate Clean-Up

Following the inspection, officials on-site were instructed to carry out emergency cleaning operations. However, since Sunday was a public holiday, the formal show-cause notices were issued on Monday, directing the concerned officers to explain the lapses and ensure that all ghats are brought to the required level of cleanliness immediately.

BMC Commissioner Sanskriti Jain had earlier directed all zones to clear Durga Visarjan waste from the ghats well before Chhath Puja. Despite the orders, remnants of immersion waste were still visible at Prempura Ghat, about 100 metres from the lakeshore, even as thousands of devotees gathered for rituals on Monday morning.

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Lighting and Safety Issues Persist

In a separate instance, the Assistant Health Officer of Ward 30 had to repeatedly appeal over the wireless network to restore lighting near the Valmiki statue at Kaliyasot Dam, where the ghat remained in darkness for several hours. Streetlights were eventually switched on after multiple reminders, officials confirmed.

The lack of lighting raised safety concerns among residents and devotees, who have been urging the civic body to improve basic amenities such as sanitation, electricity, and access at major ghats ahead of the Chhath festivities.

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Civic Accountability Under Scrutiny

The latest action underscores growing concerns over municipal preparedness for major festivals in Bhopal. Chhath Puja, one of the most significant festivals for Bihar and eastern UP communities residing in the city, draws large crowds to ghats every year. Any lapse in cleanliness or infrastructure can pose health and safety risks, especially along water bodies.

BMC officials said that follow-up inspections will be conducted over the next two days to ensure compliance and that disciplinary action will be considered if the lapses persist.