changeadminThe Gomti River, which is the lifeline of Uttar Pradesh state capital, Lucknow, flows through the heart of the city and shapes its culture, history, and daily life. Originating near Gomat Taal, a lake in Pilibhit, the Gomti is a perennial river and an important tributary of the Ganga.
Recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the “Gomti River Rejuvenation Mission,” an essential initiative toward its cleaning, revitalisation, and ecological development.
The Chief Minister held a high-level meeting with the Territorial Army at his official residence on 12th October regarding the cleanliness of the Gomti River banks. During the meeting, the Chief Minister discussed the mission’s detailed action plan and provided necessary guidelines.
The Chief Minister stated that the Gomti, flowing from Pilibhit to Ghazipur, is not just a river, but a symbol of our cultural consciousness, spiritual heritage, and way of life.
The Gomti’s revival is not just about water purification, but a comprehensive campaign to revitalise our culture and environment. This mission will symbolise environmental responsibility and our shared commitment to future generations.
He stated that this would not be merely an administrative project, but a mass movement initiative involving every section of society. He called for short-term and long-term strategies to ensure that not a single drop of sewage is discharged into the Gomti River.
The Chief Minister also called for identifying illegal settlers along the riverbanks and taking legal action against them to ensure cleanliness and safety along the Gomti River. The mission’s scope will cover the entire Gomti River basin from Pilibhit to Ghazipur, ensuring that the Gomti River regains its clean, uninterrupted, and pure form throughout its entire course.
The Chief Minister set the mission’s goal of intercepting more than 95 per cent of urban sewage, minimising river pollution, and reviving the riverbank ecosystem.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that 13 of the 39 major drains flowing into the Gomti River remain untreated. Currently, six STPs operate with a total capacity of 605 MLD. To make them fully effective, there is a need to divert drains to STPs, establish new plants, and upgrade old ones.
The Chief Minister stated that this mission will not be limited to pollution control, but will also serve as a means of biological, cultural, and aesthetic revitalisation of the river. Under the action plan, new wetlands such as the Ekana Wetland and Sajan Lake will be developed in Lucknow.
As part of the Gomti River rejuvenation project, special campaigns will be launched to remove illegal encroachments along the riverbank, beautify the ghats, and increase coastal greenery.
The Chief Minister stated that a strict ban will be imposed on the use of single-use plastic, as it plays a significant role in choking sewer systems and increasing pollution.
The Chief Minister stated that the Gomti Task Force, formed in January this year under the National Clean Ganga Mission, includes the Project Director of the State Clean Ganga Mission, representatives from the Irrigation Department, Pollution Control Board, Jal Nigam, Lucknow Municipal Corporation, Lucknow Development Authority, and other institutions, as well as experts.
Prof. (Dr.) Venkatesh Dutta of BBAU, Lucknow, and Co-founder of the Atulya Ganga Trust, Lt. Col. Devendra Chaudhary (Retd.), are also key figures in this task force, which serves as a powerful bridge between government and society.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that the Gomti Task Force has engaged over 70,000 citizens so far through foot and boat patrols of the riverbanks, cleaning over 1,000 tons of water hyacinth, surveying drains to identify pollution sources, and conducting more than 100 awareness programs.
Under the “River Yoga Campaign,” daily yoga, ghat cleaning, and public interaction programs were held at five major ghats from April to June 2025. Over 50,000 citizens participated, and more than 300 tons of water hyacinth were removed.
Yogi Adityanath emphasised that the Gomti’s water is the basis of life, and keeping it clean, uninterrupted, and pure is Uttar Pradesh’s moral and cultural responsibility.
He informed that the government will ensure no shortages of resources such as track boats, floating barriers, excavators, and other equipment necessary for the Gomti River Rejuvenation Mission.
Monthly meetings of the Task Force should be held regularly. Quarterly progress reports should be sent to the Chief Minister’s Office, and transparency and public participation should be ensured at every level.
This Gomti River Rejuvenation mission will not be merely a government program, but rather a public-led initiative. To achieve this, extensive public awareness campaigns should be launched under the guidance of public representatives, with the active participation of educational and other social institutions, so that this mission can become a mass movement.
The Chief Minister emphasised that only when society and the government work together will the Gomti regain its natural purity and life-giving flow.
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