Pilgrims want river excavated for them

Statesman News Service

MALDA Feb. 21: Thousands of people across the district took a holy dip on Maghi Purnima in the silted river Bhagirathi at Shadullapur burning ghat today.According to the local committee members, mo-re than one lakh people came to immerse themselves in the holy water. Though a fair was also org-anised traditionally, there were no basic amenities for the pilgrims. Neither the local fair committee nor the administration took initiative for them to provide at least one extra tube well for the pilgrims. The river Bhagirathi, which was earlier connected with the river Ganges as its tributary has been completely silted and dried up. Constructing embankme-nts year after year since 1970 on the left bank of the river Ganges for flood protection, disconnected the river Bhagirathi. There is no longer water flowing to it from the Ganges. But based on their old belief and considering the Bhagirathi as the Ganges, thousands of people take a dip in the river.Addressing a programme of local cable channel at Shiba Temple in the fair ground today, the gram panchayat pradhan Mr Biresh Mandal demanded excavation of the river so pilgrims can use the river for holy dip. The local cable channel today inaugurated a free information service and entertainment cable channel programme for the entertainment of cremation party members close to electric crematorium at Sadullapur. “I had raised the question in panchayat samiti level for its excavation but no plan has been adopted,” he said.Similarly , the Sadullapur fair committee members Mr Anil Kumamr Ghosh and secretary of burning ghat committee Mr Sudhir Ghosh also demanded excavation of the river. Addressing the inauguration programme, the Malda SDO said: “The fair committee did not inform us to provide some facilities for the pilgrims. I did not have any idea that many pilgrims come here to take a holy dip to mark Maghi Purnia”.“I have spoken to the BDO Kaliachak II regarding excavation of river Bhagirathi. But it is difficult to carry out the job by the block alone. There is need to ‘pull funds’ from various sources, MLAs, MPs and other sources to implement the project,” said Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De. “Huge money will be required to excavate the river,” she said. The former MLA Mr Samar Roy, who was also present at the programme, said: “The water of the silted river is completely unhygienic. Explaining importance to excavate the river, I had written a letter to the proper authorities to rejuvenate the river connecting with Ganges properly. Nothing has been done.”