In preparation for the monsoon season, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched a statewide campaign to tackle water logging issues. The Urban Development Department will utilise drone surveys to create digital maps of urban drainage networks and implement a three-tiered strategy to minimise waterlogging in urban areas.
Special cleaning teams will be formed to thoroughly clean drains and remove silt and waste. Instructions have been given to complete the repair and maintenance of all pumping stations. Additionally, emergency teams equipped with high-capacity mobile pumps will be deployed to sensitive locations during the monsoon season.
An Integrated Urban Storm Water Drainage Master Plan (IUSWDMP) will be implemented in 10 major cities of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Moradabad, Jhansi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, to address waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall.
A specialised team will be formed by the Construction and Design Services of the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Urban) to develop the plan, utilising technologies such as topographical surveys, field surveys, data analysis, satellite imagery, and GIS.
The plan is being considered based on the Sponge City concept, which involves absorbing, storing, and draining rainwater like a sponge. All reports will be compiled to prepare a detailed plan, and the opinions of prestigious institutions in the state, including IITs, will be sought.