The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has approved a proposal to shift meat and fish shops operating within city limits to designated locations on the outskirts, officials said on Sunday. The move is part of the civic body’s efforts to improve sanitation, urban management and cleanliness in the city.
The decision was approved during a meeting of the municipal corporation’s governing body held at the Town Hall building in Maidagin under the chairmanship of Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari.
Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava said members discussed several aspects of city development and supported the proposal to systematically relocate meat and fish markets to peripheral areas.
Five Locations Identified in First Phase
Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal informed the House that five sites have been identified for the first phase of the relocation project.
According to officials, meat and fish shops currently operating inside the city will gradually be shifted to Ramnagar, Sujabad, Ganeshpur, Avleshpur and Shivpur.
“The sites are located near the city’s outer limits to minimise inconvenience to residents,” Nagpal said during the meeting.
Officials said the plan aims to improve sanitation and streamline the functioning of meat and fish markets while ensuring consumers continue to have access to these services.
At present, around 350 to 400 meat and fish shops operate within Varanasi city limits, according to municipal authorities.
Traders Voice Concerns Over Livelihood
The proposal has raised concerns among traders, who fear that moving markets outside the city could negatively affect their businesses and inconvenience customers.
Ashraf, a meat shop owner from Nathupur, said relocating shops to the outskirts would increase travel time and expenses for both traders and buyers.
“We want the administration to find a practical solution keeping in mind the convenience of traders as well as the general public,” Ashraf said.
During the municipal meeting, corporator Gulshan Ali said a similar proposal had been introduced nearly a year ago but was not implemented effectively.
Ali also highlighted concerns related to the annual closure of meat shops during the Hindu holy month of Shravan, saying it significantly affects the livelihoods of people dependent on the meat trade.
In response, Municipal Commissioner Nagpal assured members that land for the relocation has already been identified and implementation of the proposal will begin soon.
Congress Criticises the Move
The Congress criticised the decision, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to livelihoods.
Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam said the move affects the fundamental right to earn a living and could disproportionately impact those dependent on the meat business.
“Such a decision goes against the right to livelihood, which is the fundamental right to earn a living with dignity, and it amounts to depriving a large population of their means of survival,” Alam said.
He further alleged that the decision reflected an attempt to impose social uniformity, adding that practices related to animal sacrifice vary across communities and traditions.
The civic body, however, maintains that the relocation plan is aimed at improving city management and sanitation while continuing access to meat and fish markets through designated zones outside the city.
