The Centre on Monday told Parliament that Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi is not a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and said the work currently underway there is meant to restore the strength of the ghat and improve facilities. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat described the work as a “restoration and conservation project”. ADVERTISEMENTRedevelopment work at the historic cremation ghat in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi had recently triggered a political row. “The Manikarnika Ghat is not a protected monument under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India. He replied that the “ongoing restoration and conservation works would strengthen foundational stability of the ghats while maintaining the natural flow of the river”.

Source: The Telegraph March 09, 2026 13:37 UTC