The Uttar Pradesh government has reiterated that no idols have been damaged during the ongoing reconstruction and redevelopment work going on at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Urban Development Minister AK Sharma reiterated that there was a lack of basic amenities at Manikarnika Ghat area, due to which reconstruction and redevelopment work have been initiated by the government to provide more facilities to the people. 

 

District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar also said that no idols have been damaged during the ongoing reconstruction. He said that misleading and baseless claims were being circulated on social media and have no connection with the reality on the ground. Mr Kumar said that during the reconstruction work under the redevelopment plan, some artworks embedded in walls at the ghat were affected.  

 

However, all such artefacts and idols have been duly preserved by the Culture Department and placed at a safe location, and will be reinstalled in their original form after completion of the work. 

 

Professor Ram Narayan Dwivedi, General Secretary of Kashi Vidvat Parishad, fully supported the government’s efforts and said that Kashi Vidvat Parishad is with the government in this campaign and all the rumours being spread in this regard are baseless.