– “We cannot remain safe by harming the environment” – A.K. Sharma
– Mayor’s call: “Say no to plastic, gift a clean future to the next generation”
– Minister lauds former and current Municipal Commissioners for their dedication to city cleanliness
Lucknow: On the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, World Environment Day, and the birthday of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation organized a grand public awareness event from 6:00 AM, stretching from Gomti Barrage to Gulala Ghat. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about environmental protection, cleanliness, and the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
A.K. Sharma, Minister for Urban Development, Energy and Alternative Energy Sources, was the chief guest. The event was presided over by Mayor Sushma Kharkwal. Among the key participants were Additional Municipal Commissioners Lalit Kumar, Namrata Singh, Arun Kumar Gupta, Dr. Arvind Kumar Rao, local councilors, volunteers from NGOs, sanitation workers, and enthusiastic citizens. Commissioner Gaurav Kumar appointed Arun Kumar Gupta as the nodal officer for the event.
8 Clusters Clean 8 Km Stretch of Gomti River
Mayor Sushma Kharkwal informed that the Municipal Corporation divided the 8 km stretch of the Gomti River into 8 clusters for a systematic clean-up drive. Each cluster was assigned nodal officers and engineers to ensure smooth operations.
For example:
* Cluster 1 (Bhaisakund to Dargah Hazrat Syed Pir Shah) – Led by Shri Lalit Kumar
* Cluster 2 (Laxman Park) – Nodal: Shri Arun Kumar Gupta
* Cluster 3 (Laxman Mela Ground) – Supervised by Chief Engineer (Civil) Shri Mahesh Verma
* Cluster 4 (Hanuman Setu to Boat Club) – Led by Smt. Namrata Singh
* Cluster 5 (Hanuman Setu Bridge to Shani Dev Temple) – Headed by Dr. Arvind Kumar Rao
* Cluster 6 (Shaheed Smarak to Daliganj Bridge) – Led by Chief Engineer (Mech/Electrical) Shri Manoj Kumar
* Cluster 7 (Daliganj Bridge to Pakka Pul) – Supervised by Shri Ashok Singh
* Cluster 8 (Pakka Pul to Gulala Ghat) – Managed by Dr. P.K. Srivastava, Municipal Health Officer
This well-structured approach ensured effective removal of hyacinth, plastic, idols, and waste from the river.
Minister & Mayor Participate in River Cleanup
According to Nodal Officer Shri Arun Kumar Gupta, the drive saw active participation from both Municipal workers and local citizens. At Laxman Mela Ground, Minister A.K. Sharma, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Commissioner Gaurav Kumar, Councilor Ranjeet Yadav, and volunteers from Go for Gomti took part in cleaning activities, inspiring others by personally removing waste from the river.
Green Flag for 6 New Garbage Vehicles
Minister A.K. Sharma and the Mayor flagged off 6 newly fabricated vehicles purchased by Lion Enviro Lucknow for road sweeping, silt, and horticulture waste management. MD Shri Randhir Singh stated that more vehicles will be inducted soon, bolstering the city’s waste management system.
Over 1000 Saplings Planted Citywide
Dr. Arvind Kumar Rao reported that 20 saplings were planted in each of the 8 clusters and 35 more at the central venue, totaling over 1000 saplings citywide. Notable saplings included rudraksha, banyan, mango, amla, kanji, kaner, moulshree, hibiscus, and bottle brush. The Minister and Mayor planted rudraksha and banyan respectively at Laxman Mela Ground.
Mayor: “Cleanliness needs examples, not just speeches”
In her address, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal said:
> “Today marks Ganga Dussehra, Environment Day, and the birthday of our dynamic CM Yogi Adityanath Ji. It’s a day of culture, commitment, and celebration.”
She thanked Minister Sharma for joining despite his busy schedule and praised Commissioner Gaurav Kumar and his team, especially for taking notable steps within just a month of assuming office.
She emphasized that cleanliness is a shared responsibility, not just of the Municipal Corporation.
> “We must lead by example. Banning plastic starts with us. These efforts are not outsourced to NGOs but are the collective will of the Corporation and citizens.”
She also announced that similar Gomti clean-up events will be held on anniversaries of great leaders to maintain sustained public participation.
Minister Sharma: “Nature’s balance ensures our survival”
Minister A.K. Sharma congratulated all participants and underlined the importance of environmental awareness. He said:
“In our culture, the five elements – water, air, earth, fire, and space – are divine. If we harm nature, it will harm us back. Polluted water, air, and soil directly impact our health.”
He added, “Let’s not believe we can stay safe while damaging the environment. Cleanliness is everyone’s duty.”
Praising the leadership of the Mayor and the organizational skills of Commissioner Gaurav Kumar, he called the event a shining example of citizen-government collaboration.
The event featured engaging public activities such as “One Tree for Mother”, “Riverfront Clean-up Drive”, “Plogging for Plastic”, and “Human Chain for Environment”, turning the city into a vibrant canvas of ecological commitment.
