Haridwar, Oct. 27 -- Barely a week after the concrete foundation was laid at several Ganga ghats being constructed for the Ardh Kumbh Mela 2027, cracks, seepage, and exposed iron grills have surfaced, raising concerns over the quality of the work being carried out for the mega religious event. According to officials, the defects have been observed at multiple points along the newly built and under-construction ghats, where cement layers have started to erode and water leakage has been reported. The developments have triggered questions about the pace and standards of ongoing construction ahead of the high-profile fair. Taking cognisance of the issue, Ardh Kumbh Mela officer Sonika Singh has directed officials of the Irrigation Department, which is the nodal agency for ghat construction, to ensure quality control and to arrange for a third-party inspection of the work. "No laxity will be tolerated in terms of quality and time-bound completion of Ardh Kumbh projects. I personally inspected several ghats where such complaints were received. Any official or contractor found violating norms will face strict action," Sonika said, adding that she has issued firm directives to ensure durable and safe structures for devotees. On Sunday, officials from the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department carried out an inspection of the ghats along a 5-km stretch from Mayapur to Ranipur, where the issues were first reported. A department engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that due to the limited 20-day window available during the annual Ganga closure period, some portions of the concrete base developed cracks and seepage at the edges. "We are identifying such damaged sections and will dismantle and recast them to ensure long-term durability and safety of the ghats," the official stated. The Ardh Kumbh Mela 2027, expected to draw millions of pilgrims and tourists to Haridwar, has multiple infrastructure projects underway, including ghat redevelopment, road expansion, and drainage improvements....