‘Rules flouted’: Varanasi vet dept tells meat shops ‘in 2-km radius of temple’ to shut down
Varanasi, Jan 12: The Veterinary Department on Saturday filed a police complaint against 26 meat and fish sellers located within a two-kilometer radius of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple here for violating norms.
The complaints were filed at Chetganj, Chowk, and Dashashwamedh police stations.
Varanasi Municipal Corporation public relations officer Sandeep Srivastava said the notices were issued to the meat and fish sellers who were operating their businesses in violation of the norms.
"... notices were sent to approximately 54-55 sellers around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple around a week ago. Sellers who have ignored these notices will now face legal action," he said.
According to Srivastava, sellers must obtain a licence from the Food department and there must be a separate designated space for slaughtering animals. Both conditions were overlooked by the meat shop owners, he claimed.
Veterinary Officer Dr Santosh Pal said complaints were filed against 22 meat vendors at Chetganj Police Station. Two complaints were filed at Dashashwamedh and Chowk police stations each.
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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
