Indian Express 07.06.2010
Weir on Gomti for water through the year
Lalmani Verma Tags : projects, Gomti Nagar Posted: Mon Jun 07 2010, 01:09 hrs
The Uttar Pradesh Projects Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has already started work in this regard.
The project has been taken up to add to the beauty of the memorials and parks developed along the river from the barrage to the La Martiniere Boys College ground. Samtamulak Chowk, Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal, Ambedkar Vihar and a park behind Ambedkar Memorial police outpost have been developed on one side of the river, and three park — separated by the new eight-lane bridge and the Gandhi Sethu — have been developed on the other bank. The 255-m-long weir and 335-m long abutment on both sides of the river will be completed by next March.
At present, the river flows in a narrow channel and most of the riverbed remains dry, except in the monsoons. After the weir is ready, the entire riverbed will have 3.65 m deep water. “Being built at an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore, the weir will help recharge groundwater and add to the beauty of the entire area,” said Ravindra Rai, UPPCL’s General Manager (Commercial).
The UPPCL has started construction of the weir from the end of the Ambedkar Memorial police outpost. Dredging of the river bed has begun and the foundation of the abutment is being prepared.
“But work may be stopped any time after June 15 when the water level rises due to rain upstream. The flood water will recede in October and work will resume then only,” said Rai. The UPPCL has already completed channelisation of the river into this stretch at a cost of Rs 8.4 crore. Channelisation has given a definite shape to the river and will ensure its continuous flow
