Varanasi: The district administration asked the Varanasi Municipal Corporation to ensure timely cleaning of the ghats for Ganga Mahotsava and Dev Deepawali celebrations to be held on November 27. The officials were also directed to beautify kunds and other waterbodies of the city to include them in Dev Deepawali celebrations.Chairing a meeting on Friday, divisional commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma asked the VMC to begin the work of removing silt left on the ghat steps by floodwater to prepare the ghats for hosting the Ganga Mahotsava and Dev Deepawali events. After the removal of silt beautification work should also be intensified, he added.Tourism department was directed to make necessary arrangements for grand laser show and fireworks and also to complete formalities of floating tenders for arrangements of earthen lamps, oil and other components for lighting on Dev Deepawali. The commissioner also asked the officials concerned to avoid wastage of earthen lamps, oil and other materials.Though a series of cultural events will be organised during Ganga Mahotsava, he said, cultural programmes should also be organised at the prominent ghats along river Ganga for almost a week before Dev Deepawali. Participants of the ongoing Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsava would be given a platform during the pre-Dev Deepawali events. The commissioner asked the officials to mobilise people, especially traders fraternity, to decorate the city for the festivals. He said that cleaning, beautification and decoration of historical kunds and other waterbodies should also be ensured for Dev Deepawali celebrations. Varanasi Development Authority and UP Jal Nigam officials were directed to monitor the preparations for restoration of tent city on the opposite bank of river Ganga after the water level of the Ganga recedes. Police, traffic officials and fire brigade were asked to finalised security and traffic plans in advance.Important among others district magistrate S Rajalingam, VDA vice chairman Abhishek Goyal and DCP (traffic) Prabal Pratap Singh were present at the meeting.We also published the following articles recentlyDev Anand classics to return to the big screenThe Film Heritage Foundation has organized a film festival titled "Dev Anand100 Forever Young" to celebrate the birth centenary of Dev Anand. The festival will showcase the superstars iconic films in 30 cities over two days. The films have been selected and restored by the Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the NFDC and NFAI. The aim of the festival is to reintroduce Dev Anands films to a new generation and evoke nostalgia for those who love his work.Atishi: Meet over, but citys beautification to continueThe beautification initiatives undertaken for the G20 Summit in Delhi will be replicated in other parts of the city, according to Atishi, the Public Works Department minister. Roads were redesigned, landscaping was done, and lights and fountains were installed for the summit. Atishi also mentioned that comprehensive planning meetings have been initiated to continue the beautification efforts. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will also carry out systematic sweeping and cleaning of roads throughout the city. The Delhi government will support this initiative and provide additional machines.Vehicular traffic affected for six hours on Dhimbam ghat roadA truck carrying tomatoes fell on its side on the Dhimbam ghat road in Erode, blocking traffic for nearly six hours. The truck was traveling from Mysuru to Thiruvananthapuram when the driver lost control on a hairpin bend. The driver and cleaner sustained minor injuries. The accident caused a three-kilometer traffic jam, with drivers urging officials to monitor truck weights before allowing them on the ghat road.

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