By Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed a major embankment project along the Gomti river to address recurring flooding in Lucknow and surrounding areas. After conducting aerial and ground inspections of flood-hit locations on Monday, the chief minister said embankments could be built across a 70–80 km stretch from Bakshi Ka Talab in Lucknow to Naimisharanya in Sitapur, describing the plan as a long-term solution to the city’s inundation problems.
The announcement comes after heavy monsoon rainfall pushed up water levels in the Gomti and caused flooding in several parts of Lucknow, including Faizullaganj. Adityanath directed the Irrigation Department to conduct a technical survey of the riverbank from Faizullaganj towards Naimisharanya and prepare a detailed proposal for the proposed embankments.
Technical survey to determine project alignment
According to the Irrigation Department, the technical survey will assess the feasibility and requirements of the proposed project before construction begins. Executive Engineer Mukesh Kumar Vaish said the department would soon undertake the survey following the chief minister’s direction.
A separate embankment project has already received technical approval for a roughly 3.6-km stretch from Pucca Pul to IIM Road and onwards to Faizullaganj. The project is to be implemented by the Lucknow Development Authority.
During his inspection, Adityanath said the proposed embankment should not simply block the river from entering residential areas. Drainage arrangements would also be required on the protected side so that rainwater does not remain trapped after the river rises.
He directed officials to include pumping arrangements that could move accumulated water back into the Gomti, particularly during periods when the river is carrying a high volume of water.
The chief minister said the distance between the river and the embankment should be determined after considering the river’s peak discharge and water-carrying capacity.
Prof Venkatesh Dutta of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University also stressed that the location of any embankment should be determined by hydrological considerations rather than the availability of land for residential or real estate development.
Heavy rainfall raises pressure on Gomti
Adityanath said more than 50 districts in Uttar Pradesh had experienced heavy rainfall over the previous 10 days, resulting in rising water levels in several rivers.
According to the chief minister, the Gomti did not initially rise sharply in Lucknow. The situation changed after runoff from heavy rainfall in areas including Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur, as well as parts of Nepal, moved downstream and reached the river after several days.
The state has recorded more than 802 mm of rainfall during the current monsoon, making it the highest rainfall level in a decade since 2017, according to the information provided in the report.
The proposed embankment plan also assumes significance in the context of the planned State Capital Region (SCR), which is expected to cover Lucknow, Sitapur, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Unnao. The proposed region will cover around 28,826 square kilometres and have an estimated population of about 2.3 crore.
With further urban expansion expected across the region, flood management along the Gomti is likely to become an increasingly important infrastructure issue.
Relief measures ordered for flood-hit families
During his visit, Adityanath interacted with residents and reviewed relief operations in affected areas. He directed officials to move displaced families from open spaces to schools and marriage halls and ensure arrangements for cooked food, drinking water and milk for children.
Officials were also instructed to provide nutritious food for pregnant women, along with cattle feed and veterinary assistance.
Given the increased risk of snake bites and animal-related incidents during flooding, the chief minister directed health centres in affected areas to maintain adequate supplies of anti-snake venom and anti-rabies injections.
He also ordered surveys of damaged houses, deaths, livestock losses and crop damage so that eligible families could receive compensation. Families of people who die from drowning or lightning strikes would be entitled to ₹4 lakh assistance, he said.
A health camp was also reviewed during the visit, with the chief minister speaking to doctors and patients about medicines and available medical facilities.
Rajnath Singh seeks urgent flood response
Lucknow MP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke with Adityanath about the flood situation in the city, particularly the waterlogging in Faizullaganj.
Singh sought early approval for an embankment along the left bank of the Gomti, covering the stretch from IIM Road towards Harding Bridge. Following an aerial survey of the affected area, Adityanath announced the proposed embankment as part of the government’s long-term approach to the flooding problem.
Singh also spoke with the Lucknow district magistrate and directed the administration to prioritise relief and rescue operations. He called for sufficient boats in affected areas, adequate supplies of food grains and drinking water, medical camps and temporary shelters.
The district administration was also instructed to maintain continuous monitoring of the situation and ensure that assistance reaches affected residents without delay.
The proposed embankments represent a shift from responding to individual flooding episodes toward a broader flood-management plan for the Gomti corridor. The technical survey and subsequent project proposal will determine the exact alignment, engineering requirements and scope of the work.
