Varanasi: In a move aimed at restoring the cultural and religious character of Varanasi, thousands of meat and fish shops operating within the city will be relocated to designated sites on the outskirts within the next six months, officials said on Sunday.
The proposal, approved by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, seeks to shift all meat and fish vendors outside the city limits as part of a broader initiative to improve cleanliness, strengthen waste management, and enhance the experience for pilgrims and tourists visiting the holy city.
Officials said the decision is intended to preserve the cultural heritage and spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi, one of India's most revered pilgrimage destinations. Supporters of the move argue that the open sale of meat and fish adversely affects the city's image and places an additional burden on civic authorities responsible for maintaining hygiene and sanitation.
Under the plan, meat and fish shops will be relocated to five designated locations on the city's outskirts, including Ramnagar, Dumri, Shivpur and Chhitaipur. The new commercial zones will be equipped with essential facilities such as electricity, water supply, sanitation infrastructure and waste management systems.
According to Municipal Corporation officials, the relocation is expected to improve public hygiene, reduce waste-related issues on city streets and provide a cleaner environment for residents and visitors alike. The process of allotting authorised shops to existing vendors at the new locations is expected to begin shortly.
Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari supported the proposal, describing it as a "need of the hour." He said a large number of meat and fish shops currently operating in the city are illegal, unauthorised or unregistered.
"We will regularise them. We will provide them with the best possible shop facilities, including electricity and other essentials. We will also ensure proper waste management so that garbage does not accumulate anywhere. We will divide the city into five zones and relocate meat, fish and chicken shops to designated areas outside the city limits," he said.
Emphasising that the initiative is not intended to shut down businesses, the Mayor stated that vendors would be relocated rather than removed.
"Kashi is a religious and cultural city. Lakhs of people visit here; they do not come to see meat and fish shops. We are creating a suitable environment for meat and fish shops outside the city limits. We are not removing or shutting them down. Instead, we will relocate them to designated sites outside the city and consolidate them in one place," he said.
Mayor Tiwari further said that the Municipal Corporation's executive committee has already approved the proposal and that authorities will soon identify and develop the five designated locations outside the city for the relocation process.
With IANS inputs