GOMTI RIVER

Context: A three-year-old government order (GO) issued by the irrigation department of the Uttar Pradesh government declaring the Gomti as a “non-perennial river” has drawn flak from water experts and river rights activists.

• The GO defining the floodplain of 12 rivers was regarding a case being heard by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• In 2018, the NGT raised dissatisfaction over encroachment and construction activities on the floodplains of rivers, which included Kali, Hindon, Varuna, Rapti, Sai, Betwa and Ghaghra.

Gomti

• Gomti is a tributary of Ganga river and an alluvial river of the Ganga Plain.
• It originates from Gomat Taal which formally is known as Fulhaar jheel, near Madho Tanda, Pilibhit in UP.
• It extends 900km through UP and meets the Ganges River in Ghazipur.
• At the Sangam of Gomti and Ganga, the famous Markandey Mahadeo temple is situated.
• The most important tributary is the Sai River, which joins near Jaunpur
• The cities of Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sultanpur and Jaunpur are located on the banks of Gomti
• The river cuts the Jaunpur city into equal halves and becomes wider in Jaunpur.