File photo: Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today announced cleaning of Gomti river in Lucknow on the same lines as river Ganga.
"Health of rivers is indicative of the health of a nation. When a country's rivers start drying, its fate also dries up," he said while addressing a cleanliness awareness programme.
The objective of the Centre is not only to develop the country as an economic capital but also a spiritual capital, for which unhindered flow, cleanliness of its rivers is necessary, Mr Singh said.
The Union Minister said a detailed project report will be prepared for cleaning of Gomti river on the same lines as river Ganga and the work in this regard has already begun.
Mr Singh, who is a Member of Parliament from Lucknow, said that from Kudiya Ghat to La Martinere college in the city, the banks of Gomti would be developed on the lines of Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad.
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, who was also present at the event, said that through short term and long term schemes the Ganga would become visibly clear within three years and it would be completely cleaned up in 10 years.
Like Ganga river, Gomti would also be cleaned up for which survey has been completed, Ms Bharti said, adding, cleaning Gomti would be a lot easier than Sabarmati which had dried up.
Students from Lucknow University, Technical University and various schools attending the event formed a human chain during the programme, organized by social organization Lok Adhikar Manch and resolved to clean the Gomti river.
The Union ministers, LU vice-chancellor SB Nimse and convenor of the organization Anil Singh initiated cleaning up of the area around the Gomti to mark the occasion.