LUCKNOW, Nov. 13 -- With thousands of devotees expected to gather along the Gomti river for the upcoming Chhath Puja, the Lucknow administration and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) have launched a massive, city-wide safety and cleanliness drive to ensure a smooth, secure and organised festival. Authorities have completed preparations at 110 designated locations, comprising 47 major and 63 minor ghats. To support these efforts, the LMC has allocated approximately Rs.2 crore, deploying extensive sanitation teams and infrastructure across all eight municipal zones. Divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, inspected four major sites such as Kudiya Ghat, Sanjhiya Ghat, Jhulelal Vatika Ghat and Lakshman Mela Park. The commissioner instructed officials to ensure high-mast lighting, accessible pathways, parking, ramps, drinking water, mobile toilets and regular water sprinkling to control dust. A core priority for the LMC is maintaining a "zero-waste" environment. To mitigate pollution, LMC placed Arpan Kalash (collection vessels) at every ghat, encouraging devotees to deposit flowers and ritual offerings rather than immersing them into the water bodies. Dedicated Safai Mitras have been stationed at all sites. Notably, an on-ground inspection conducted by the HT at Lakshman Mela Ground and Jhulelal Vatika revealed a visible improvement in the clarity of the Gomti River water compared to last year. While recent flooding appears to have flushed out accumulated debris and sewage, officials and experts note that while the water looks clearer, laboratory testing would be required to establish its safety for ritual contact. Acting on the directions of Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar, the civic body has also completed cleaning, painting and lighting work at major ghats....