VMC proposes registration ofpandas for fee, kicks up a storm

Varanasi: The Varanasi Municipal Corporation stirred the hornet’s nest by coming up with a provision of registration of pandas (priests) who perform rituals on ghats in Kashi and prescribed fees for booking platforms and holding events. The union of priests and many religious authorities opened a front against the civic body on Thursday on the issue.
UP minister of state (independent charge) for tourism and religious affairs Neelkanth Tiwari intervened to resolve the issue and assured that no priest will have to pay fee.
On Wednesday, VMC published a notification in local dailies introducing a bylaw for maintenance and conservation of ghats under its limits. Mentioning that the work would be done as per directives of National Green Tribunal, VMC said the bylaw is being introduced due to non-compliance of solid waste management and sanitation bylaw 2016.
VMC also specified a fee of Rs 100 for registration of chowkis (platforms) for priests, Rs 200 to Rs 4,000 per day for social, religious and cultural activities and Rs 5,000 for events of longer duration (from 15 days to a year).
When TOI contacted the in-charge officer (revenue) of VMC, Vinay Rai, he said, “The provisions are being introduced for cleanliness and maintenance of ghats.”
Akhil Bharatiya Teerth Purohit Mahasabha and Kashi Teerth Purohit Mahasabha strongly opposed the VMC notification by terming it a bid to hit the traditions of the holy city.
Mahasabha general secretary Kanhaiya Tripathi demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision and said VMC should have consulted local scholars before publishing the notification.
Swami Jitendranand Saraswati of Ganga Mahasabha compared the fees being imposed with the jazia tax imposed on non-Muslims by Mughal rulers and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
Minister for tourism and religious affairs Neelkanth Tiwari intervened before the row could escalate and said, “The Panda Samaj should not be worried. No fee will be charged from them for performing rituals on ghats, but if any priest wants to get registered the facility is available.”
Tiwari also talked to divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal and municipal commissioner Gaurang Rathi on the issue and said registration is not must for priests neither do they have to pay any fee.
Rathi said a meeting will be convened in a day or two with all stakeholders to clarify the issue.