New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- An artificial Yamuna ghat, where filtered water is being used, is being set up again at Vasudev Ghat for Chhath Puja this year, despite the political controversy surrounding a similar arrangement last year. Official sources revealed that work on the ghat is underway, with the arrangement being planned amid concerns over the rising pollution levels in the Yamuna. The development comes at a time when the river's water quality remains a contentious issue between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with toxic foam continuing to surface in parts of the river.

"The work on these ghats is in process at the banks of Vasudev Ghat. The intention behind this is the rising pollution of the Yamuna," official

sources said, indicating that the arrangement is aimed at providing an alternative for devotees amid

concerns over the river's water quality.

The preparations come amid renewed political sparring over the condition of the River. On Thursday, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari took a dip in the Yamuna near Sonia Vihar, claiming that more than half of the river had been cleaned under the BJP government. However, thick layers of toxic foam were spotted at Kalindi

Kunj on Friday, a day after his dip, once again highlighting the contrasting conditions along different stretches of the river.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj rejected the BJP's claims, arguing that the Palla-Wazirabad stretch where Tiwari took the dip had historically been relatively clean. He challenged Tiwari and Water Minister Parvesh Verma to drink water from the polluted Kalindi Kunj stretch instead.

The Yamuna flows for approximately 52 km through Delhi, with the 22-km stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla facing severe pollution due to sewage and untreated wastewater entering the river. Water Minister Parvesh Verma has said that complete cleaning of the river could take another two-and-a-half to three years.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has planned more than 1,400 Chhath ghats across the capital this year, compared with 1,326 last year. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to complete basic preparations by November 6. Arrangements include CCTV cameras at major ghats, lighting, toilets, changing rooms,

covered tents, sanitation and fire safety measures. Chhath celebrations will take place from November 13 to 16.

The artificial ghat at Vasudev Ghat became a political flashpoint during Chhath last year when AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the BJP government had created a "fake Yamuna" by filling an artificial stretch with filtered water from the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant. He claimed the arrangement was intended to create an impression of a clean Yamuna ahead of a proposed ceremonial dip by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi. The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing AAP of opposing efforts to clean the River.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.