Make Gomti river of life, preserve heritage sites: CM
LU CK N OW : Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the Gomti should be made the river of life. He directed the officials to preserve places of heritage, along the banks of city’s lifeline while undertaking its revitalisation which “would bring a qualitative change in the life of the residents”.
“River waters are usually clean, till they enter a city. And Gomti is no exception to this phenomenon as untreated wastewater and sewerage is allowed to flow into it. This should be stopped immediately,” he said. Disposal of solid waste and the growing traffic problem posed a major challenge to the city, he said, adding that a 45-metre wide embankment, which would also serve as a two-lane road, would be built from Amar Shaheed Path on the right bank of the river.
“New technology and innovative measures ways should be adopted wherever they are required. Certain developed countries build rubber dams to ensure free-flow of streams and river water. We can emulate them here,” he said. Yadav was given a presentation on the beautification and development plan for the river by experts from a Dutch company and irrigation department officials, the agency which is undertaking work on the Rs 1500 crore project.
The CM said that spots along the river’s stretch in the city should be developed into play areas for children, leisure and entertainment zones to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. He cited the example of the sprawling Janeshwar Mishra Park (JMP) in Gomti Nagar being developed by the state government, which he said, had become a favourite hot spot for the residents on weekends and holidays.
The CM asked the irrigation department officials that he would not allow tolerate any further delay and told them to commence work forthwith on development and irrigation schemes in the dry and arid regions of the state now pending for the past three years.