Seers irked as civic body taxes prayers, events at Varanasi's Ganga Ghat

Heavy fines for encroachment and littering, religious preachers dwelling on the riverbank to pay registration fee

From now onwards, performing religious rituals at the banks of river Ganga in Varanasi would cost devotees. The municipal corporation of Varanasi has imposed a tax on religious, social and cultural programmes at Ganga ghat. Seers and religious preachers dwelling in huts on the riverbank will also have to pay a registration fee.

The civic body as also decided to impose heavy fines on those encroaching and littering the riverbank. Organisers of all cultural event at Ganga Ghat will have to take prior permission and pay fees to the municipal body. However, the seers in Varanasi have opposed this move and