PHED Makes Comprehensive Drinking Water and Sanitation Arrangements for Devotees; 720 Toilets and 30 Water Kiosks Established
Bhagalpur, Special Correspondent: Reassuring news has emerged for millions of Lord Shiva devotees undertaking the journey to Baba Baidyanath Dham via Devgarh and Sultanganj. In view of the world-famous State Shrawani Mela 2026, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has put in place comprehensive and foolproof arrangements for drinking water and sanitation for devotees, stretching from the Kanwariya path to various halting points across the city. To ensure that Kanwariyas do not face any form of inconvenience during their arduous trek, the department has operated on a war footing this year. According to official information, a total of 720 state-of-the-art toilets and 30 drinking water kiosks (pyaus) have been established along the entire route, ensuring that Shiva devotees receive pure drinking water and a clean environment at every step from Sultanganj right up to the Jharkhand border.
What Is the Entire Scheme and Why Was It Necessary?
Every year during the holy month of Sawan, crores of Kanwariya Shiva devotees from every corner of the country fill water from the sacred north-flowing Ganges (Uttarvahini Ganga) at Sultanganj and set off on foot toward Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The availability of cleanliness and drinking water along this demanding Kanwariya route, spanning approximately 105 kilometers, has always posed a major challenge.
Surging Crowds and Administrative Challenges: Taking into account the massive influx of Kanwariyas during the Shrawani Mela, the state government and district administration make special arrangements every year. Learning from the experiences of previous years, the PHED has made these provisions even more robust and modernized this time around.
Special Emphasis on the Sanitation Mission: To combat open defecation and spare female Kanwariyas any embarrassment or difficulty, a network of mobile toilets and pre-fabricated restrooms has been specially deployed along the route this season.
Construction of 720 Toilets and Their Features
Mindful of the massive crowds of both male and female Kanwariyas, the PHED has ensured the arrangement of a total of 720 toilets along the Kanwariya path and halting stations.
Segregated Arrangements: Separate units have been constructed within these toilets for male and female devotees to prevent any inconvenience.
Regular Sanitization: The department has deployed dedicated personnel (Safai Mitras) to maintain cleanliness across all these toilets. Sanitization of these premises is carried out around the clock on a rotational basis to eliminate any risk of filth or disease spreading during the mela.
Adequate Water Supply: Comprehensive water connections and storage tanks have been set up near every toilet to ensure uninterrupted flushing and handwashing facilities.
Establishment of 30 Pure Drinking Water Kiosks Across Locations
Dehydration frequently transforms into a major problem for Shiva devotees undertaking a long trek amidst stifling humidity and heat. In response, the PHED has established a total of 30 state-of-the-art water kiosks along the entire Kanwariya path.
Arrangements for Chilled and Pure Water: RO systems and water coolers have been installed at these hydration points to provide cool and clean drinking water to Kanwariyas even during peak heat.
Handpump and Tubewell Backup: To handle potential power outages or technical malfunctions, deep-boring handpumps have been kept on standby near these kiosks and camps to prevent any disruption in the water supply.
QR Codes and Monitoring: Regular water quality checks are conducted at intervals by joint teams from the health department and the PHED to prevent any waterborne illnesses.
High-Level Review by the Department and Directives to Officials
Senior PHED officials recently conducted surprise inspections of the mela grounds to assess these comprehensive arrangements. The chief engineer and executive engineers of the engineering department issued explicit directives prohibiting any complaints regarding water or cleanliness at any point during the mela.
Establishment of Control Room: A special control room has also been set up by the department, with its contact number publicized so that any Kanwariya encountering issues related to water or restrooms can report them instantly and secure a resolution within minutes.
The comprehensive arrangements implemented by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) during the State Shrawani Mela testify to the government's absolute commitment to serving and safeguarding Kanwariyas. This network of 720 toilets and 30 modern water kiosks will not only render the devotees' journey smooth and comfortable but also establish new standards for cleanliness during religious fairs under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. Thanks to these administrative facilities, the arduous journey undertaken by Baba's devotees has been rendered considerably more manageable.
