Latest news with #VaranasiDevelopmentAuthority
Time of India
10-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
VDA to engage INTACH to preserve its docus, maps
Varanasi: The Varanasi Development Authority has decided to engage the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to provide technical assistance for the preservation and maintenance of important records, files and cadastral maps stored for years in its office's record announced on Saturday that, in view of the necessity of preserving old documents and records, including maps, the officer in-charge of archives gave a proposal in this connection. It was tabled before vice-chairman Pulkit Garg and secretary Ved Prakash Mishra. Following this, the process for financial and administrative approval began. Upon receiving approval from the VDA vice-chairman and secretary, a team of experts from INTACH, led by its director Dharmendra Mishra, will survey the current condition of the documents and maps stored in the record room and take necessary actions for their physical preservation. Notably, some of the files to be preserved contain documents dating back to 1950, which are of significant administrative proposed plan also includes provisions for training relevant staff to make the record management system more effective and secure. This training will ensure the organised maintenance of maps and records. Additionally, a scientific system of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be implemented. IPM is a comprehensive pest management approach that balances mechanical, physical, biological, and minimal chemical measures as needed to protect documents from termites, insects, mould, and other factors. This method not only ensures the long-term safety of the stored materials but is also environmentally friendly.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Banquet hall in green belt of Varuna river razed
1 2 Varanasi: Acting tough against illegal constructions, the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) on Monday demolished a banquet hall and restaurant constructed in the green belt of the Varuna in Sikraul ward. The joint team of VDA officials and police raided the area and bulldozed the banquet and restaurant built on a steel structure with a tin shed on the bank of the Varuna. VDA vice-chairman Pulkit Garg said that a demolition order was issued on Oct 10, 2024, against the construction of the banquet hall and restaurant by one Gopal Yadav on approximately 1,000 square metres of green belt near the Varuna as per the relevant Section-27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act-1973. The construction was done despite the provision of a green belt within 50 metre from the Varuna bank, where construction is prohibited, as stated in the Varanasi Master Plan 2031. Later, an appeal and a writ petition were filed in the Allahabad High Court against the order, but due to lack of clear evidence regarding the construction, it was dismissed. In compliance with the demolition order, VDA officials said, the construction was demolished. While assessing the progress in works assigned to VDA officials in each zone for the month of April, VDA secretary Ved Prakash Mishra ordered withholding of May salary of zone-five junior engineer Ashok Yadav and all field staff until all pending files of regularisation of maps are disposed of. Expressing dissatisfaction over the revenue collection being below the target, a clarification was sought from zone three zonal officer Saurabh Dev Prajapati, junior engineer Ravindra Prakash and Raju Kumar. During the review meeting, the secretary gave clear instructions to address the negative feedback being given in public grievances received on the IGRS portal, take action against illegal plotting, unauthorized petrol, diesel and CNG filling stations and review the top-10 defaulters in building layouts (wards). A total of 16 regularisation maps were approved during the period, with a total of Rs 3.11 crores collected as regularisation fees by zones three, four and five.
