VARANASI, July 31 -- A Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) team led by veterinary welfare officer on Thursday recovered a fine of Rs.19,500 from three meat shops found open along Kanwar Yatra route in the city area of Varanasi, said officials. VNN had issued instructions before the onset of the holy month of Sawan that meat shops along the Kanwar Yatra routes in the city area will remain closed. On Thursday, the first day of the holy month, on the instructions of municipal commissioner Himanshu Nagpal, a VNN team led by veterinary welfare officer Dr Vijay Amritraj, conducted intensive inspections across various city areas. During the drive, a fine of Rs.5,000 was imposed on a vendor illegally selling meat in the Bhojubir area. Meanwhile, a fine of Rs.4,500 was collected from a shopkeeper violating regulations in the Shivpur area. The strictest action was witnessed in the Andhrapul area, where a vendor was fined Rs.10,000 for serious violations, including selling meat during the month of Sawan, using banned plastic, and creating filth in the vicinity. Three shops found open despite the ban were shut down on the spot, and fines totaling Rs.19,500 were collected from the violators, said VNN PRO Sandeep Srivastava....