The Delhi government has set up 81 artificial ponds across the Capital for Ganesha idol immersion this year, with the facilities also slated to be used for Durga Puja immersions and Chhath-related activities, officials said on Tuesday.
The ponds have been created at parks, Ramlila grounds, vacant plots and other government and public-use sites as immersion of idols in the Yamuna and other water bodies remains prohibited except at designated locations. Immersion of plaster of Paris idols in water bodies is also prohibited. “Workers are the foundation of Delhi’s development.
The government plans to deploy 13 such vans, one in each district.
Officials said the artificial ponds will subsequently be used for Durga Puja idol immersion and later for Chhath-related activities. Officials said they will visit labour chowks, construction sites and other locations where workers are employed. Gupta said the initiative was intended to reduce workers’ visits to government offices and prevent the resulting loss of daily wages. Now, services will reach their doorstep instead of them having to visit offices,” she said. Labour minister Kapil Mishra said the vans would assist workers with registration, renewals and applications for government schemes, besides providing information on eligibility and required documents.
Separately, chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday flagged off four ‘Mobile Namo Shramik Seva Kendra Vans’ from the Delhi Secretariat as part of the government’s Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, aimed at taking registration and welfare services to construction workers and other labourers.
