Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has secured approval for a ₹12.26-crore integrated rejuvenation and development project at Gomti Udgam Sthal in Pilibhit, the origin point of the Gomti River. The project will focus on lake restoration, sewage treatment and improving the ecological condition of the site.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has granted administrative approval and expenditure sanction for the project under Namami Gange Mission-III.
Joginder Singh, Project Director of the State Mission for Clean Ganga, Uttar Pradesh, and a 2015-batch IAS officer, said the project will include interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage generated by Madho Tanda village through interceptor drains and sewers.
The plan also includes hydraulic rejuvenation of all three lakes at Gomti Udgam Sthal through an escape channel system to regulate monsoon inflow. Deteriorated embankments will also be structurally strengthened as part of the project.
The initiative is aimed at tackling sewage pollution while restoring the water bodies around the Gomti’s origin point and strengthening the ecological condition of the site.
Sewage Treatment and Lake Restoration at the Core
According to the Uttar Pradesh State Mission for Clean Ganga, the project includes infrastructure to intercept, divert and treat domestic sewage generated by Madho Tanda village.
A network of interceptor drains and sewers will be developed to prevent untreated domestic wastewater from reaching the water bodies around the Gomti’s origin.
The project also includes hydraulic rejuvenation of all three lakes at the site. An escape channel system will regulate monsoon inflows and help manage water movement during periods of heavy rainfall.
Another key component involves strengthening deteriorated embankments around the water bodies.
Together, these interventions are intended to improve water management at the site while reducing the pressure created by untreated sewage.
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Project to Be Completed in 24 Months
The construction phase of the Gomti Udgam Sthal rejuvenation project has a scheduled completion period of 24 months, excluding the bidding process.
The project also provides for five years of operation and maintenance, which is intended to support the continued functioning of the infrastructure after construction.
The inclusion of a long-term O&M period is particularly relevant for sewage treatment and water-management infrastructure, where regular maintenance is important for sustaining outcomes.
Focus on the Gomti’s Ecological Origin
Gomti Udgam Sthal, located at Gomat Taal in Pilibhit, is regarded as the origin point of the Gomti River. The site’s water bodies and surrounding ecosystem therefore have significance beyond the immediate project area.
The approved plan is not limited to sewage infrastructure. It brings together wastewater management, hydraulic restoration and structural strengthening within a single development framework.
This integrated approach is aimed at improving the condition of the water bodies while addressing pollution risks at their source.
Turtle Habitat and Watershed Treatment Planned
The State Mission for Clean Ganga has also indicated plans for further ecological interventions at the site.
These include restoration of turtle habitat and watershed treatment, broadening the focus from water pollution control to biodiversity and catchment-level conservation.
Such measures can support the ecological health of the site by addressing both the condition of the water bodies and the surrounding watershed.
The wider objective is to strengthen conservation efforts for rivers and lakes while improving wastewater management.
Part of UP’s Wider River Conservation Push
The Gomti Udgam Sthal project comes within Uttar Pradesh’s broader efforts to improve the condition of the Ganga and its tributaries through sewage treatment, river rejuvenation and water-body conservation.
The Union government has previously identified the Gomti among the smaller rivers and tributaries being covered under the wider Namami Gange framework.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga has also continued to support sewage infrastructure and river rejuvenation projects across the Ganga basin. As of June 2026, projects under the Namami Gange Programme had generated 4,263 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, according to the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
For Uttar Pradesh, the latest approval adds another project focused on a tributary’s source area rather than only downstream river stretches.
A Combined Approach to Water and Ecosystem Management
The Gomti Udgam Sthal project brings several interventions together: sewage interception and treatment, restoration of three lakes, controlled monsoon inflow, embankment strengthening, watershed treatment and planned turtle-habitat restoration.
For residents around the site, the immediate focus will be on better wastewater management and restoration of the water bodies. Over the longer term, the project is intended to support the ecological health of the Gomti’s origin area.
The 24-month construction schedule, followed by five years of operation and maintenance, gives the project a defined implementation and upkeep framework.
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