Special boats laden with food-grade enzymes have been deployed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to tackle the poisonous foam floating on the surface of the Yamuna, Revenue Minister Atishi said Thursday. Inspecting government preparations for the upcoming Chhath Puja (festivities are to begin Friday), at Burari's Indraprastha Colony, she blamed the Uttar Pradesh government for sending polluted water the city’s way. “The DJB has begun sprinkling food-grade enzymes on the river from last night.10 boats have been deployed so far. The foam (at Kalindi Kunj) will completely vanish over the coming two days,” she said. “But I would also like to request the Uttar Pradesh government to do something about the foam that flows into the city through the UP Irrigation barrage at Kalindi Kunj. For the time being, we are making adequate arrangements to ensure Delhiites don’t face any issues in this regard. but I also request the UP government not to send polluted water our way,” she added. Hitting out at Atishi, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor called the minister “a master at jugglery” and alleged that the Revenue department had totally failed the Purvanchali community settled in Delhi in providing Chhath ghats and other puja facilities. “The Delhi government has developed one sample Chhath ghat at ITO West and Minister Atishi has tried to showcase it, but she has failed in misleading Purvanchalis,” Kapoor alleged. According to Atishi, however, there was no shortage in preparations for the festival and all MLAs and government departments concerned were present on the ground as per the directions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “The Chhath Mahaparv is a momentous celebration for the people of Purvanchal. Like every year, it is being organised with grandeur this year too. We are working on a war footing in this direction. The government has prepared more than 1,000 Chhath ghats in the city,” she said. From constructing ponds at ghats to providing tents and lights, ensuring cleanliness and security, Atishi said cultural programmes organised by the Maithili-Bhojpuri Academy will also take place at many ghats. “The BJP is making baseless accusations in the name of Chhath. The truth is that it never organised any Chhath event to date,” she alleged.
