CM Yogi Adityanath Directs Development Authorities: Maps to Be Approved Only After Rainwater Harvesting System Ensured
LUCKNOW— Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all development authorities in the state to approve building plans only if they include rainwater harvesting systems. The move aims to institutionalize water conservation as a fundamental component of urban planning.
The Chief Minister emphasized that buildings with a plot area of over 100 square meters must compulsorily have rainwater harvesting facilities.
This directive, earlier issued during a Namami Gange meeting, reflects the state government’s renewed focus on sustainable urban growth and water management.
At a review meeting of the Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply (Minor Irrigation) departments on Saturday, Yogi Adityanath said that the step would prove decisive for water conservation across both urban and rural regions.
He noted significant progress in restoring groundwater levels, stating that while in 2017 there were 82 over-exploited and 47 critical zones, by 2024 these numbers had reduced to 50 over-exploited and 45 crucial areas.
“This is a positive sign,” he said, “but the goal should be to bring all these regions back to normal in the coming years through accelerated efforts.”
Focus on On-Ground Monitoring and Integrated Planning
The Chief Minister urged senior officials not to confine themselves to paperwork but to personally inspect project sites to ensure visible progress.
He stressed that development and infrastructure works must reach a new benchmark of efficiency and transparency.
He announced that comprehensive development works worth ₹1,833 crore have been planned for Meerut, Kanpur, and Mathura-Vrindavan, involving 38 projects — 11 in Meerut, 13 in Kanpur, and 14 in Mathura-Vrindavan.
Each proposal, he directed, must be finalized only after thorough local surveys and studies to ensure alignment with ground realities and public needs.
Yogi Adityanath also instructed that development authorities should introduce their own municipal bonds on the lines of urban local bodies (ULBs) to finance infrastructure projects and promote financial self-reliance.
Special Focus on Urban Slums and Basic Amenities
Highlighting the need for inclusive urban development, the Chief Minister emphasized the rehabilitation and upgradation of slum areas, ensuring access to clean drinking water, efficient drainage, roads, waste collection, and street lighting.
He warned against unauthorized colonies being developed without adherence to standards or approval from municipal bodies, calling for strict enforcement to prevent unregulated urban sprawl.
The Chief Minister said that delays in execution often occur because different departments work in silos. To address this, he called for joint action plans with synchronized implementation across departments.
He also stressed the importance of a robust drainage system in all cities to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains, with continuous monitoring and regular maintenance.
Cleanliness and Public Hygiene
Yogi Adityanath instructed civic bodies to construct more community toilets in slum areas and public places and to ensure their regular cleaning.
Newly added villages under municipal jurisdictions should also receive basic amenities at the earliest, he said.
He made it clear that accountability will be fixed in cases of negligence and that smart city projects must be designed in a way that ensures both comprehensive urban development and revenue generation for local bodies.
CM Yogi Adityanath Calls for Integrated Development: Projects to Be Linked with Green Corridor, PPP Model to Boost Urban Growth
Lucknow, Special Correspondent — Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emphasized the need to integrate ongoing and upcoming projects with the proposed 28-kilometer Green Corridor in Lucknow, saying that such interlinking will accelerate economic development and strengthen urban connectivity.
He directed officials to ensure that funding for the Green Corridor and related projects is arranged through investment loans, enabling faster implementation without burdening state finances. “Linking major infrastructure projects will multiply their impact and create sustainable avenues for growth,” he said.
PPP Model for Convention Centre
The Chief Minister urged development authorities not to confine themselves merely to construction work but to adopt innovative financial strategies for strengthening their fiscal base. Stressing the importance of forward-looking urban planning, he said that a world-class convention centre should be built under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to meet future needs and attract investment.
He added that given the increasing seriousness of the water crisis, innovative planning and financial models are essential to ensure that urban growth remains both sustainable and resilient.
Empowering Local Livelihoods Through Water Conservation
Highlighting the government’s commitment to both environment and employment, Yogi Adityanath announced that from April 1 to June 15 each year, potters will be allowed to extract clay from ponds free of charge, enabling pond rejuvenation before the monsoon season.
Following the rains, these ponds can be used for fisheries and water chestnut (singhada) cultivation, creating large-scale livelihood opportunities for rural communities.
Calling the water crisis a collective national concern, the Chief Minister instructed officials to launch a mass movement on the lines of “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One Tree in Mother’s Name) to promote the construction and restoration of check dams, ponds, and recharge pits across the state.
“This must become a people’s campaign—linking environmental responsibility with social participation,” he said.
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