Haridwar: For annual repair work, the state irrigation department is going to close the Ganga canal for 20 days on the night of 11 October. Every year on the occasion of Dussehra festival, the northern section of the Ganga canal is closed for repairs.
However, Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department claims that despite the closure of Ganga canal, there will be no shortage of Ganga water for the devotees at Har ki Pauri.
No rituals and bathing are possible due to low water level
Every year, Ganga Canal remains closed for about 20 days in the month of October. Due to the lesser supply of water, the level of Ganga water at Harki Pauri becomes very less. The devotees are not able to get Ganga water even for rituals, let alone bathing in the Ganga. In such a situation, the devotees coming to Har ki Pauri from other cities and states have to return disappointed.
Devotees will have sufficient water for rituals and bathing
The Uttar Pradesh irrigation department claims that by building a dam, sufficient Ganga water will be brought directly from the Ganga River to Har ki Pauri, so that devotees will be able to take bath at Har ki Pauri and perform religious rituals even when the Ganga canal is closed. Vikas Tyagi, Executive Engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, states that this time, sufficient water will be supplied to Har Ki Pauri from the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga. An alternative arrangement is being made to ensure there is no water shortage at Har Ki Pauri, allowing devotees to continue bathing in the Ganga.
Ganga Canal will remain closed till midnight of 31 October
The northern section of the Ganga canal will be closed from midnight on October 11 to midnight on October 31. This time, the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department has devised a plan to ensure water supply for devotees at Har Ki Pauri. According to the plan, dams will be constructed at Bhagirathi Point and Kangra Bridge from the uninterrupted flow of Ganga coming from Sarvananda Ghat. By creating these dams, the water will be diverted towards Har Ki Pauri, ensuring Gangajal reaches the devotees for bathing. If successful, this will be the first time the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department manages to provide Gangajal for bathing during the Ganga canal closure.
Traders oppose the closure on the occasion of Dussehra
The traders of Har-Ki-Pauri oppose the closure of the northern section of the Ganga canal. They argue that it is closed during the festival season, depriving devotees of the chance to bathe at Har Ki Pauri, leading to a decline in the number of visitors to Haridwar on the occasion of Dussehra. This results in business losses for them. They demand a change in the timing of the Ganga canal closure.
