Uttar Pradesh: Water hyacinth carpet eclipses Gomti

LUCKNOW: A 2km stretch of the river Gomti passing through the city was covered with a carpet of water hyacinth due to collection of effluents discharged by drains during monsoon. The situation was aggravated because of stagnation of water as the irrigation department barrage in Gomtinagar has stopped flow of water for treatment and recycling for domestic consumption.
The flow is also being hindered by two temporary dams in the 8km stretch from Pucca Pul to Gomti Barrage. These dams were constructed to check flow of water for the Gomti Riverfront. However, the project was stayed following allegations of a scam and a CBI inquiry is underway. Now, these weeds pose a threat to the functioning of the barrage by blocking the inlet besides harming aquatic life.
Experts said this is a perennial problem for the Gomti after every downpour and needs a lasting solution.
Environmentalist and faculty at Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University Venkatesh Dutta said that sewage discharge has high nitrogen and phosphorus that creates favourable conditions for water hyacinth.
“In a study in 2018, we had found that oxygen levels in the Gomti had dipped to 1.2mg per litre against the standard of 4mg/litre due to hyacinth and sewage. Such a condition is fatal for flora and fauna of the river,” he added.
LU’s geology professor Dhruv Sen Singh, an expert on rivers, said, “The lasting solution is to check sewage water discharge in the river and maintain its natural flow.” Officials also said that three machines have been deployed to clean the hyacinth. “The stretch between Nishatganj and the barrage is almost clean, while work is underway between Ghaila and Daliganj bridge,” said PK Singh, in charge, LMC’s rubbish removal department.