lucknow

Updated: Jun 16, 2019 10:15 IST

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Saturday passed a proposal for a complete ban on alcohol and non-vegetarian food in a 250-metre periphery near temples and heritage sites in this ancient pilgrim town, a top official said.

The decision was taken at the executive committee of the VMC chaired my Mayor Mridula Jaiswal.

“In the meeting of executive committee, Corporator Rajesh Yadav put a proposal for complete ban on liquor and non-vegetarian food near the temples and Heritage sites in 250-metre periphery,” said Narsingh Das, deputy chairman at VMC.

In support of his proposal, Yadav said that alcohol and non-vegetarian food should be banned near the temples and heritage sites on the lines of similar rules in Haridwar and Ayodhya.

Das said that the committee passed the proposal after a discussion. It will now be tabled in the next session of Varanasi Municipal Corporation. After being passed in the session, it will be sent the state government for final approval.

Varanasi is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency. It is also regarded as the country’s spiritual capital with some 2000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, and is a top destination for performing funeral rites. The town also draws Hindu pilgrims for bathing in the scared water of the Ganga that flows through the town.