Dredging of Gomti to begin from June 2

Chief Minister Mayawati had laid the foundation for the Gomti River Front Development Project on February 5. The government has released Rs 2.62 crore in favour of the corporation to complete the task of beautification of the river by January 31,2010.

“The UPPCL has assembled a dredging machine at the cost of Rs 43 lakh,” said Project Manager KS Pandey.

The silt removed from the river will be collected in pits at the river banks. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has been assigned the task to dispose off the silt and the waste.

According to Pandey,the dredging would increase the depth of the river and the quantum of the water.” Currently,the depth of the river is up to 3 metre only. After dredging,it will increase to 5 metre,” said Pandey. Once the silt is removed,more space would be available for water,resulting in the

increase in the quantum of water. Also,the silt collected at the bottom generates gases,which are harmful for the aqua life,he said. The dredging will continue till June 15 and then restart from September 15.”Due to monsoon,dredging will remain stalled for three months,” said an official.

The corporation has installed nets across the river to collect the solid waste items that people throw in the river. These nets are put up at Baikunth Dham,Hanuman Setu,Daliganj and at Kudiya Ghat.

Around 18 boats will be used for waste collectuion and surface cleaning of the river. The corporation has also fixed nets at 25 barrels that discharge domestic waste in river,which will keep a check on the discharge of solid waste into the river.