UPSSSC Test 9

The Gomti river, which flows through the heart of Lucknow before joining the Ganga at Ghazipur, holds immense cultural and ecological significance for the people of Uttar Pradesh. Known in ancient texts as the Gomati and celebrated in poetry and literature, the river has been a defining feature of Lucknow's identity for centuries. The river originates from Fulhar jheel in Pilibhit district and traverses approximately nine hundred kilometres before its confluence with the Ganga. However, decades of rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, and inadequate sewage treatment have severely degraded the quality of Gomti's waters. The river receives untreated domestic sewage, industrial effluents, and solid waste from numerous cities and towns along its course, leading to a dramatic decline in water quality and the near-extinction of several native aquatic species including the Gangetic dolphin, which was once sighted in the river. The Lucknow waterfront development project has been a major initiative aimed at restoring ecological health and aesthetic value to the riverfront within the city. The project involved the construction of embankments, creation of green promenades, installation of riverfront parks, and beautification of ghats. The development transformed stretches of the previously neglected riverbank into popular recreational and cultural spaces. However, environmental experts have raised concerns that some aspects of the construction may have altered the natural floodplain and affected the river's ecological functions. The National Green Tribunal has taken cognisance of Gomti pollution on multiple occasions and issued directions to the state government and municipal bodies to accelerate sewage treatment infrastructure. The government has been implementing sewage treatment plant upgradation under the AMRUT scheme and the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Riverfront restoration efforts include plantation drives, construction of interception and diversion drains to prevent raw sewage from entering the river, and community awareness programmes. Achieving a truly clean and healthy Gomti will require sustained investment, strict enforcement of pollution norms, and active community participation in protecting the river.