Banners used to hide Ganga filth during Macron ride

The local administration in Varanasi came under attack from the public as well as Opposition parties over their alleged attempts to "hide" the filth on the ghats of the Ganga with the help of banners, posters, hoardings and rugs, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron took a boat ride in the river on Monday.

Soon after the conclusion of the event, pictures showing banners and posters in front of open drains and rugs over filth on the ghats went viral on social networking sites.

The open drain at the Nirvani Ghat on the Ganga had been covered by a huge hoarding of Modi and Macron. Similarly the drains, that discharge polluted waters into the river from Assi to Dashaswamedh Ghat, were also covered in the same fashion. Though the people on the ghats could clearly see the drains, those on the boats in the river could not see them as the view was blocked by hoardings and banners.

"It was a shameful attempt to hide the failure of the government to cleanse the Ganga," said senior Congress leader in Varanasi, Ajai Rai.

Rai said that the ghats on the river continued to be filthy and that over two dozen drains also continue to discharge waste into it.

Officials in Varanasi said that the banners, posters and hoardings had been put up to welcome the two dignitaries but remained evasive on whether they were put in front of drains.

Modi and Macron had taken a boat ride from Assi ghat to Dashashwamedh ghat in the Ganga on Monday.