Soon, a green belt in rural areas along the Gomti

LUCKNOW: : Soon, the rural areas along the river Gomti will sport a green cover, as the district administration is planning a massive plantation drive in around 41 villages along the river.

The extensive plantation drive is part of the Gomti’s cleanliness mission that would be carried out in both urban and rural parts of the city.

The district magistrate has also shortlisted the team to keep a tab on the mass plantation drive that would start soon after monsoon begins. “It’s going to be a massive plantation drive, a part of Gomti cleanliness mission to be carried out in the villages along the river Gomti,” said Kaushal Raj Sharma, district magistrate, Lucknow.

Sharma said planting trees would not only help in holding the soil but also keep the river and air clean. “We have also shortlisted the places in the villages that are in BKT, Gosaiganj, Malihabad and other villages situated along the river Gomti,” said Sharma.

He has also directed panchayati raj officer, chief development officers and tehsildars to divide the entire area in various sectors to carry out the drive

effectively. He said the drive would be different from others because a committee would ensure proper watering of plants so that the saplings did not die or wither away.. “The committee will monitor the drive and will

also keep a close watch on the plants to ensure 100 percent survival,” he added.

He has directed the officials to form a whatsapp group and to update day to day data, supported by images on daily basis.

At the same time, the district administration would also rope in students from various government schools to create awareness campaign among the villages through nukkad nataks, chaupals and workshops.