Varanasi, Dec 31 : The lack of success of the ''Ganga Action Plan'' in over two decades, has prompted Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh to announce the novel ''Mission Clean Ganga'' project here on Wednesday.

Ramesh said that under the new plan the government would ensure that no pollutants are released into the river without treatment.

It has been decided that by 2020 any municipal sewage or the industry effluent won''t be released in Ganga without proper treatment, he added.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 26 - In the first such case in this ancient city, two people have been arrested for causing noise pollution. This come four years after the Supreme Court imposed strict norms on noise levels. Police admit they have been indifferent to the problem so far.

Anil Kumar, the police officer at Chet Ganj police station who filed the case, told IANS Thursday: "We received a complaint Tuesday from people in the Ram Katora area at around 11.30 p. m. through SMS and a phone call about DJs.

Varanasi, Nov 21 : Agitated over the death of a student, several groups of college students fought a battle with the police here. They targeted public property and damaged a number of vehicles, officials said Saturday.

Sanjeet Singh, a second year undergraduate student of Udai Pratap College went missing two days ago. His body was recovered Friday night from Cholapur area of this city in Uttar Pradesh, about 250 km from state capital Lucknow.

Varanasi, Nov. 14 : Apart from functioning round the clock as a cremation ground, the ''Manikarnika Ghat'' is also a source of income for many families.

Everyday, at least four hundred funerals take place at the Manikarnika Ghat, which stands out for its mythological importance.

"Souls of the people cremated here attain salvation as soon as their remains are immersed in holy Ganges," claimed Saidvagish Dutt Mishra, a priest practicing on the ghat.

Varanasi, Nov. 10 : Hundreds of college students in Varanasi participated in a cleaning drive aimed to keep the holy Ganges river pollution-free.

Many volunteers cleaned the Ghats of the river with brooms, and also distributed pamphlets among public to spread awareness about keeping the river pollution free.

Shobha Yadav is a middle-aged milkman in Bharathara in Varanasi, living in a hut with his three sons and two daughters. Yadav once used to wrestle in akhadas abounding this village but it’s now the turn of the new generations. But he doesn’t have a clue what sport his youngest son Ram Asre is involved in, nor has he any idea where in the world he will be off to soon.

His village buddies told Yadav that his son is a judoka and was 'videsh' bound but they too had idea just where this teenager was bound to.

Varanasi/Patna /Guwahati, Oct 24 : The Chhath Puja, a festival to thank the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life on the earth and prosperity was celebrated on Saturday with religious fervors and gaiety.

Standing in knee-deep water on the banks of rivers, ponds and water reservoirs, devotees paid oblations to the setting sun this evening and rising sun on Sunday morning.

The worshippers also keep fasting for 36 hours.

In Varanasi, lakhs of devotees offered Puja to Sun God after taking holy dip in the River Ganga for Kharna Puja.

Inspired by Hindi flicks, Hera Pheri and Phir Hera Pheri, a boy, 14, here has turned perhaps the youngest trickster of India, coning job-seekers to net over Rs 2 lakh, before landing in police net.

Ram Lakhan Benwanshi, a Class VII dropout from Sarainandan locality of the city, was nabbed by cops of Lanka Police Station for allegedly running a fake-government recruitment racket for more than 10 months and earning over Rs 2 lakh.

Cash totalling Rs 9,800, a khukhri (Nepali dagger), pen drive containing government department logos, army and police dresses, besides badges of men in khakhi as also fake government recruitment forms and appointment letters have been seized from the boy's home.

Varanasi, Oct. 15 : Ahead of Diwali, the festival of lights, flowers are in high demand in the holy city Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

The wholesale flower market of Varanasi is popular in north India. Every year in comparison to other Hindu festivals, sale of flowers is very high particularly during the festival of Diwali and Dhanteras, when people decorate their houses and also buy utensils or jewellery.

For Imran Matin (32) and many other weavers in Varanasi, last month’s Eid was special.

Three days before the festival, the Banarasi saree was given a geographical indication (GI) certificate, meaning no saree or brocade made outside the six districts of Varanasi, Azamgarh, Chandauli, Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Sant Ravi Dass Nagar of Uttar Pradesh can be legally sold as a Banarasi saree.

The certificate is granted under norms of the World Trade Organisation to goods that have a specific geographical origin and have qualities or a reputation unique to that place.

Varanasi, Sep. 16 : Police on Wednesday resorted to a baton charge angry Samajwadi Party workers who were protesting against the Mayawati Government''s policies.

The incident took place when Samajwadi Party activists went to hand over a memorandum to the district magistrate.

Several protestors were injured, while some others were arrested.

Varanasi, Sep 15 : The members of a Ramlila committee protested against the land mafias in front of the Varanasi District Office on Tuesday for illegally capturing their land.

The protestors were dressed as characters from the Ramlila and alleged that their land was illegally taken over by the mafias.

Varanasi, Sep 15 : Four engineering students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were arrested on Tuesday in alleged connection in ragging of a junior student in Varanasi.

According to reports, the arrested engineering students sexually assaulted a student on Monday night. The incident took place inside the university hostel as a part of ragging session despite institute’s stringent measures against students indulging in such practice.

Following the incident, a complaint was made to authorities by an engineering fresher of BHU.

Varanasi, Sep. 6 : The copies of a one-inch miniature Quran are selling like hot cakes in Varanasi during the holy month of Ramadan.

The miniature of the Quran, available in different colour covers, are being curiously lapped up by the customers.

They are in big demand not only in India but also overseas.

"The Holy Quran sells in a big way at our shop during Ramadan. This time one inch-Quran is in big demand. This is the Quran… It is exported to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. People wear it around their necks like lockets," says Ramjan Ali, a shopkeeper.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 20 : A photo exhibition highlighting the ill effects of global warming and pollution on wildlife and human beings was held at the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday (August 19) on the occasion of World Photography Day.

The objective of the event was to spread public awareness about the adverse impact on environment in the guise of ‘progress’ and sensitise them towards issues like pollution.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 13 : A group of students wearing anti Swine Flu masks on Thursday participated in a cleanliness drive to clean the River Ganga in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi city.

Students opined that although several action plans have been announced in the past to clean up the river and millions of rupees spent, but the non-stop inflow of civic waste and industrial effluents into the river has kept it devoid of its beauty.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Aug. 11 : Hundreds of school students took part in a unique rally staged at Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, to motivate the local residents in keeping River Ganga clean, on Tuesday.

In recent years, non-stop inflow of untreated civic waste and industrial effluents has turned the water of Ganga into a polluted water body.

Although numerous action plans have been announced and millions of rupees spent, little has been done in implementing even one.

Taking a firm stand against ragging, the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has imposed a penalty of Rs.50,000 against 10 students indulged in ragging. The authorities have also handed over these guilty students to the police, who registered a criminal case against them for allegedly ragging junior students.

The university officials said that out of 10 students, eight are B-Tech third year students, while remaining two are third year students. The college authorities also have videos and other substantial proofs to attest the ragging of junior students.

Varanasi, July 30 : Setting an example for other colleges and students
over ragging issue, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) fined its 10
students and handed over them to the police for allegedly ragging
junior students.

Police have filed a criminal case against the alleged students who have been arrested.

Eight of them are second year students of Bachelors of Technology (B. Tech) and the other two are third year students.

According
to a university official, a college security staff member in civil

Varanasi, July 29 : Monsoon rains have brought much-needed respite to people in the drought-hit Varanasi. Farmers, who have been anxious about their crops following a prolonged dry spell in this monsoon season, are ecstatic in particular.

With the rainfall much below average, the Uttar Pradesh government had declared Varanasi a drought hit district, and advised farmers to sow coarse grains that require less water.

But as it has rained now, sowing has begun with vigour after a long wait. Paddy saplings are being sown in inundated fields.