Gomti Task Force to collaborate with BBAU

Lucknow, April 30, 2025: In a significant step towards the rejuvenation of the River Gomti, a multidisciplinary team comprising experts from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow Municipal Corporation, and the Gomti Task Force conducted a joint field survey on river health. The survey assessed critical environmental challenges along the river, including sanitation issues, drain outfalls, and the widespread infestation of water hyacinth. The team met and presented their findings to the Vice Chancellor of BBAU Prof. R. K. Mittal.

BBAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. R.K. Mittal, lauded the collaborative initiative and emphasized the university’s unwavering commitment to ecological restoration. "This partnership reflects our shared vision for a cleaner, healthier Gomti. The survey is only the beginning—we aim to expand joint research, build capacity among civic agencies, and ensure institutional collaboration through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gomti Task Force," he said.

The expert team, led by Prof. Venkatesh Dutta, Head of the Department of Environmental Science at BBAU, and Major K. S. Nagi, Company Commander of the Gomti Task Force, surveyed multiple sites along the Gomti River. Their findings have now been compiled into a detailed report submitted to concerned authorities for immediate attention and action.

Major K. S. Nagi highlighted the proactive role of the Task Force in public engagement. “We plan to install informative signage along key stretches of the river to raise awareness about sustainable practices, discourage plastic use, and inspire a culture of zero waste among citizens,” he stated.

BBAU is also supporting the Task Force in the collection and composting of biomass—primarily water hyacinth—in partnership with the municipal corporation, as part of a broader effort to restore ecological balance in the river ecosystem.

This collaborative effort marks a promising beginning for integrated river basin management and highlights the potential of science-policy-action convergence in addressing urban river pollution.