mid-day editorial: Required: A think-tank for Banganga

For two days now, Mumbai's ‘Kashi ghat' or Banganga Tank at Walkeshwar has been in news for all the wrong reasons. First, work on the steps flanking the tank was delayed by months, for obscure reasons. The old stairs were to be replaced by steps made of black stone, which was specially procured from Kolhapur. Construction work that began in January was supposed to have been completed before monsoon. Instead, it the projected got delayed and, till date, no signs of completion can be seen on the horizon. In fact, it won't come as a surprise if the construction gets delayed by six to eight months again.

Meanwhile, material from the old steps was dumped into Banganga for, apparently, there was no other place to dump it. And, like every year, thousands of fish have died at this historical site because Pitrupak­sh rituals require food and flour to be immersed into water. The fish suffered a cruel death caused by suffocation.

Today, one feels ashamed as a Mumbaikar visiting the Banganga. The authorities need to constitute a dedicated team to supervise the upkeep and construction work of Banganga Tank. The move is long overdue but different authorities have been passing on the responsibility for the Tank's maintenance, citing jurisdiction issues.

The local corporator and the state government must step in and set up a Restore Banganga committee, which has teeth and is efficacious.

It should have a number of experts on its panel and dedicated workers who can ensure that the heritage site does not fall into further ruin.

But yes, visitors need to be disciplined too. The basic cleanliness guidelines apply when you visit tour­ist spots. Do not encourage touts. Most importantly, exercise the will and resolve to save Banganga from its appalling state.