Manikarnika Ghat among 579 illegal heritage spots of Varanasi

Varanasi: Shockingly, as many as 579 heritage places including Manikarnika Ghat and Bindu madhav Temple of Kashi have been declared 'illegal' by Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), the list of which can be accessed on its official website.

VDA did this following an order of the Allahabad High Court to identify such buildings at the banks of Holy river Ganga.

This, however, is denied by the VDA secretary M P Singh but the list displayed on its website has former Vice Chairman of VDA Sarvagya Ram Mishra and Singh himself as signatories.

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All the places or buildings which have been declared illegal are situated on the banks of Ganga and included the very bank itself. Sant Ravidas Temple, Residence of Kashi's dome king Jagdish Chaudhary, Ancient Mehta Hospital, Balaji Temple, Chet Singh Fort are some of other buildings and monuments which comprised list of illegal buildings, however, the inclusion of Manikarnika Ghat, a historical place linked with the legend of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, has come as shock to the residents of Varanasi.

The VDA has also issued notices to some prominent citizens of the Temple city asking for an explanation about status of some old and heritage buildings.