Varanasi Municipal Corporation
Varanasi Municipal Corporation also known as Varanasi Nagar Nigam is the premium institution that manages and supervises the basic civic, infrastructure, sanitation, road, water supply, telecom and beautification of Varanasi. The corporation came into existence on January 24, 1959 under Uttar Pradesh government act that is Municipal Corporation Act of 1959 as Nagar Mahapalika. Shri Kunj Bihari Gupta was assigned as the first Mayor of the city and P K Kaul was assigned as the first Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi.
Nagar Mahapalika was converted to Nagar Nigam in 1994 under Uttar Pradesh government Act II. The total number of wards currently supervised by Varanasi Nagar Nigam is 90 and the total area covered by the Corporation is approximately 80 square kilometers.
Presently, Varanasi Municipal Corporation takes care of some of the most densely populated regions of the world and the total population that falls under the Corporation is over 1 million as per 2001 census. Varanasi is graded as B1 city as per the norms.
Departments of Varanasi Municipal Corporation
Varanasi Nagar Nigam comes with the following departments:- Administration
- Engineering Department
- Health Department
- Electricity Department
- Mechanical Department
- Right to Information or Legal Department
Services Provided by Varanasi Municipal Corporation
Varanasi Nagar Nigam performs or rather looks after a number of issues related to the development and beautification of the city. These services are:
- Advertisement
- Parking
- Health Services
- License
- Market
- Property tax
- Public Work
- Sanitation
- Drainage
- Social Sector
- Street Light
Zonal offices of Varanasi Nagar Nigam
For an effective administration, Nagar Nigam is divided district into five zones. Those are – Adampur, Bhelupur, Dashashwamedha, Kotwali and Barunapar. These five zones are headed by Zonal Officer who takes care of the cleanliness, road, electricity and other civic issues of the area. Individuals residing in any of these five zones, who have any complaints and queries related to Corporation can contact these zonal offices instead of the main Municipal Corporation office at Sigra, thus, saving time, energy and money of the complainants.
Functions undertaken by Varanasi Nagar Nigam
Apart from the regular administrative functions, such as maintaining cleanliness, uninterrupted power and water supply, 24X7 telecom services throughout the city, one of the most important tasks of Varanasi Nagar Nigam is to keep the ghats of the city clean. With all the various activities that take place of the ghats not only dirties the banks but also pollutes the sacred Ganga river. The Corporation on a regular basis employs men and even donkeys to dispose silt from the banks.
Solid waste management is another area of concern for Varanasi Nagar Nigam. With high tourist footfalls every month and the many rituals observed every day, the city has to deal to humungous amount of solid waste. The Corporation so far has been trying hard to tackle this aspect effectively.
Despite being ranked as one of the most visited destinations of India, Varanasi overall remains a poor city. Owing to its religious background, the city attracts more number of people than it can afford to take care. For these poor and destitute people the Municipal Corporation arranges night shelters and bonfires every winter.
Varanasi Municipal Corporation Address: Varanasi Nagar Nigam, Sigra, Varanasi
Phone no.: 2222600, 2221702, 2220505, 2223902
e-mail: info@nnvns.org