Kolkata: Special police teams will be deployed at Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar from Sunday morning to prevent people from gatecrashing the protected spaces to perform Chhath rituals. Meanwhile, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari is slated to inspect some of the ghats, including Bajekadamtala Ghat, on Sunday morning.At Rabindra Sarobar, each of the 12 gates will be manned by a sub-inspector along with a team of constables. Similar police arrangements will be put in place at Subhas Sarobar. While NGT and Supreme Court orders bar religious activities at Rabindra Sarobar, a Calcutta High Court order had also barred religious activity at Subhas Sarobar.The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) on Friday put up notices, announcing a 48-hour closure of these premises from Saturday afternoon onwards. The two places were shut from 2 pm on Saturday and will reopen at 2 pm on Monday. All entrances to the lakes have also been barricaded.On Saturday, a team of senior cops along with KMDA officials inspected both Rabindra Sarobar and Subhas Sarobar to check the police bandobast, and routine patrolling was stepped up from the evening. On Friday, temporary bamboo structures came up to seal the entry gates of both these places.A senior officer from Rabindra Sarovar police station stated: “From Sunday, the police teams will guard the gates. There are 12 gates at Rabindra Sarobar and each gate will have one SI along with other cops. The closure of the lake for Chhath celebration has been circulated on social media but we assume that some devotees might turn up.”A private security guard at Rabindra Sarovar said: “As per cops’ instruction, we have shut all the gates. The six clubs operating here have also been shut. Regular morning walkers will be denied entry for two days.”Other water bodies across the city are being cleaned, barricaded and equipped with dedicated pathways and stairs. Adequate lighting, police watchtowers, rescue boats, divers, emergency ambulances and spare vehicles are being arranged as the ghats get ready for Chhath puja. “All preparatory measures are being taken as the CM is scheduled to inspect some of the ghats on the evening of Nov 15,” said an official.About 50 natural ponds and five artificial water bodies have been prepared for devotees for observing the ritual. There are three ponds that will cater to the needs of the Chhath devotees who earlier would have observed the rituals at Rabindra Sarobar. Three large ponds in the southern suburbs, two in Kudghat and one in Bansdroni have also been kept on standby.
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