Posted on April 7, 2025
Lucknow: As part of the Kukrail rejuvenation plan, desilting and dredging work will soon begin to facilitate water flow during the monsoon season.
The initiative aims to create a natural slope, allowing rainwater to drain efficiently into the river and reducing the risk of waterlogging in nearby areas.
According to urban development officials, the detailed project report (DPR) for the project was approved. The initiative will be carried out through the combined efforts of the rural development department, forest department, and irrigation department.
A senior official from the irrigation department stated that the urban development department, as the nodal agency, will provide funding for the project. The desilting process will be executed in phases across a 28-km stretch. In rural areas, the rural development department will oversee desilting over a 4.9-km section beginning at Acharamau village under the MGNREGA scheme.
The next phase will cover a 19.23-km forested area from Acharamau to the Outer Ring Road. In urban areas, the irrigation department will manage desilting over a 4.47-km stretch from the Ring Road to the Gomti confluence. As per the DPR, the project also includes maintenance and repairs of two escape channels of the Sharada Canal—Rehua and Jarhara—which will be funded by the relevant authorities. These channels will help regulate the river’s water flow.
Additionally, of the 51 drains that discharge into the Kukrail river, 40 have been tapped by Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (urban). The remaining 11 drains, located in rural and forested areas, will be tested for water quality. If they are found to contain polluted water or sewage, measures will be taken to either tap or divert them.
The matter was discussed in a meeting chaired by divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob. She emphasized the importance of utilising rainwater efficiently during the monsoon while also addressing waterlogging issues in Akbarnagar, Abrarnagar and surrounding areas. Jacob said that the removed silt is properly collected and disposed of at designated sites to maintain the river’s flow.
Meanwhile, an official from the irrigation department, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that financial constraints have contributed to delays in the project.
While silt accumulation remains a concern, the allocated funds are based on a two-year-old estimate.
