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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Centre reviews tourism devpt projects in Varanasi, Sarnath
Varanasi: Union Govt's additional secretary Subhashish Panda on Saturday evening reviewed the ongoing development work at key tourist destinations in Varanasi and Sarnath. The review meeting, held at the Commissionerate auditorium, focused on transforming both heritage-rich locations into world-class tourist hubs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During the meeting, Divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam presented a detailed progress report on various initiatives underway in the region. He informed that 18 major tourist sites in Varanasi have been identified for focused development, with nodal officers appointed and work already in progress. Among the key initiatives highlighted were comprehensive cleanliness drives, removal of unauthorised hoardings and banners, hygiene training for hotels, eateries, and street vendors, and installation of uniform signage at prominent locations. The municipal corporation and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are jointly conducting training sessions to raise hygiene standards. To ease congestion and improve the visitor experience, a no-vehicle zone will be created between Maidagin and Godaulia, with provisions for golf cart services for senior citizens. Efforts are also underway to identify parking areas near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Panda stressed the need to upgrade tourism information centres at airports, railway stations, and bus terminals, along with the inclusion of digital maps and improved public facilities. The review also included plans for Sarnath, where a modern light and sound system is being introduced. Discussions covered issues such as improved cleanliness, standard signage, cultural programming during festivals, training of local guides, beautification of tourist spots, improved lighting, and measures to extend the average duration of tourist stays. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Later, Panda conducted field inspections of major sites in Varanasi. His itinerary included visits to Varanasi Junction (Cantt), Bharat Mata Temple at Vidyapith, Anand Van Park, Durgakund, Tulsi Manas, and Sankat Mochan temples. At Assi Ghat, Commissioner Rajalingam briefed him on the cultural significance of local events such as the Ramnagar Ramlila, Nakkatayya fair, and Bharat Milap. Panda also visited Dashashwamedh Ghat, where he was informed about the Dashashwamedh reservoir, Sheetla Mata Temple, and Hanuman Temple. At the Man Mahal Museum, he viewed 3D displays, historical video clips, and wall engravings portraying the spiritual, cultural, and religious legacy of Kashi. He later visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, and Kal Bhairav Temple to offer prayers. Panda also visited the Urban Haat at Chowkaghat and then toured key Buddhist heritage sites in Sarnath, including the Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamek Stupa, Archaeological Museum, and various viharas. He examined murals, sculptures, and displays related to Lord Buddha and the development of the ancient Nagari script.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC closes contempt proceedings against DDA for felling trees in ridge land
The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to close contempt proceedings against Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and its officials for tree felling in Chhatarpur falling within southern ridge with the court taking a lenient view considering the larger objective being for expanding the road leading towards a multispecialty hospital. Passing orders on a contempt petition filed by Delhi resident Bindu Kapurea seeking contempt action against then DDA vice chairman Subhashish Panda, a bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh noted that 'clearly DDA was in contempt for keeping the court in the dark about the trees already being felled when its application for tree felling was taken up by the court'. 'The overarching public interest weighs heavily on this court,' the bench noted as it found that the action of tree cutting was not malafide but for constructing a road to serve the larger good of operationalising the hospital, whose construction is complete and is awaiting inauguration. The DDA VC informed the court that he was on leave at the time of tree felling and had since then moved out of the department, considering which the court closed contempt proceedings against him. Three officials who were found guilty after an internal inquiry held by DDA, were directed by the court to pay ₹25,000 each as a fine towards environmental damage. Also Read: Tree felling near Sector 43 sparks outcry, audit demand The court censured the three officials and clarified that this order will be in addition to any disciplinary action sought to be taken by the DDA. As part of restorative steps to be undertaken for the 1,000 trees chopped in the ridge area, the bench considered the DDA proposal to undertake compensatory afforestation on a plot of 185 acres. The bench directed a committee of three court-nominated experts to inspect the area along with officials of DDA and government of national capital territory (NCT) of Delhi. The notice on the contempt petition was issued by the court in May last year when Kapurea through her lawyers – senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and advocate Manan Verma, pointed out how DDA misled the court by not informing it that even before its application seeking permission to fell trees could be heard by the top court on March 4 last year, the trees had been felled in February 2024. The court had taken strict view of the matter and sought explanation from the DDA VC, its officials, the Delhi government and the Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena in his capacity as chairman of DDA. DDA, which had accepted its mistake, told the top court on Tuesday to purge the contempt. The court took a serious view of the matter as Delhi ridge area constitutes the 'green lung' of Delhi and by an order passed by the top court on May 9, 1996, trees within ridge cannot be felled without court's prior permission.
