Varanasi, July 16 -- In a bid to make the three-day Rath Yatra fair beginning July 16 clean, eco-friendly and free from banned plastic and polythene, the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) will obtain affidavits from all shopkeepers operating along the fair route. According to VNN public relations officer Sandeep Srivastava, operators of temporary shops, carts and kiosks will be required to submit an affidavit declaring that they will not use banned plastic or polythene during the fair. As part of the cleanliness drive, every shopkeeper must also place a dustbin in front of their stall to prevent littering and the spread of garbage across the fair area. The civic body has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found violating these rules. Reviewing preparations for the annual fair, mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari directed municipal officials to repair and improve the Rath Yatra route to ensure devotees arriving from different parts of the country do not face inconvenience. The mayor also instructed the water works department to ensure that there are no sewer overflows anywhere along the fair route or adjoining roads. He ordered the immediate repair of potholes and directed officials to maintain round-the-clock sanitation across the fair premises. Warning against any laxity in civic arrangements, Tiwari said negligence at any level in providing public amenities during the fair would not be tolerated....