Haridwar, Oct. 22 -- The Ganga Canal's 17-day closure for cleaning and maintenance has come to a close after the canal was reopened late on Monday night, officials concerned said on Tuesday, adding that water flow was restored at a rate of 8,000-10,000 cusecs, which will be gradually increased to 13,000 cusecs. By Tuesday morning, the ghats were once again thronged by devotees coming to take dips in the Ganga and offer prayers. The Ganga Sabha, which oversees rituals at the sanctum sanctorum of Brahmakund, Har-ki-Pauri, welcomed the restoration of the canal flow. "After 17 days, the ghats are again vibrant with devotees, priests, and pilgrims. During the closure, both the morning and evening Ganga aartis were conducted with minimal water levels, but now the full flow has returned," said Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam. Harish Kumar, junior engineer in the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, said that during the closure, maintenance, renovation, and desilting work was carried out along with leakage repairs and new construction at key stretches of the ghats. "The water released from Deepawali midnight ensures full supply along the Upper Ganga Canal, which runs from Haridwar to Aligarh," he said. However, local traders have urged authorities to reschedule the canal closure to a period after the festive season in the future. "The Dussehra-Deepawali phase is the peak pilgrimage season. When the ghats run dry, it affects footfall, sentiments, and the livelihoods of priests and small traders," said Sanjay Chopra, divisional president of the Small Scale Traders' Association. Built in the mid-1850s, the 560-km-long Ganga Canal is a vital lifeline for irrigation and religious activities across several districts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. While its closure temporarily affects water availability, it allows for essential cleaning and maintenance - including removal of silt, debris, and offerings accumulated throughout the year....