TreeTake Network
In a major setback to the river rejuvenation frameworks in Uttar Pradesh, Prof. Venkatesh Dutta, head of the Department of Environmental Science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), has resigned from the District Ganga Committee (DGC), Lucknow.
Dutta resigned over the sudden administrative clearance of the 28-kilometre, four-lane signal-free Green Corridor highway slated for construction directly over the eco-sensitive floodplain of the Gomti River—a major tributary of the Ganga. In his resignation letter sent to DGC chairman Vishak G. (the Lucknow District Magistrate) and Member Secretary Sitanshu Pandey, Dutta protested against being systematically sidelined from crucial decisions. He declared he could no longer back the "mindless" construction of heavy embankments and highways in protected riparian zones.
The Scientist's Perspective & Clear Warnings
Dutta raised severe red flags regarding transparency and ecological safety. He noted that key engineering blueprints and statutory evaluations were hidden from independent oversight.
“If the observations and recommendations of river ecologists and scientists are not being given due consideration and if project-related documents such as the DPR [Detailed Project Report] and EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment] are not made available to committee members for informed deliberation, I find it difficult to justify my continued association with the committee,” Dutta wrote.
Other prominent river scientists and hydrologists have strongly supported Dutta's stance. They point out that floodplains act as a river's natural sponge. Hard-armouring these zones with massive concrete embankments permanently destroys groundwater recharge and river-aquifer interactions. Independent ecology experts warn that this project repeats the catastrophic mistakes of the 2015 Gomti Riverfront project, which choked the river channel within rigid diaphragm walls. Scientists argue that instead of spending thousands of crores on concrete roads over fragile riverbeds, the state must prioritise intercepting the massive, untreated urban sewage drains that flow directly into the Gomti every single day.
The Government & Administrative Counterview
The Government of Uttar Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), strongly defends the Green Corridor as a master stroke for sustainable urban mobility. Promoted as a flagship infrastructure project for Lucknow, state officials highlight the following justifications:
- Massive Traffic Relief: With Lucknow’s vehicular population surging past 20 lakhs, the 4-lane expressway acts as a vital city bypass. It cuts cross-town travel times from 45 minutes down to just 10 minutes.
- Environmental Mitigation: Planning engineers state that the project integrates designated "Green Belts," extensive roadside landscaping, and heavy multi-tier plantations designed to absorb vehicle emissions and suppress urban dust.
- Economic Viability: The administration is executing the corridor on a self-sustaining financial model, generating revenue by developing planned residential and commercial pockets outside the extreme flood line.
Responding to the controversy, senior officials within the District Ganga Committee sought to downplay the rift.
"No formal resignation has been officially received through the proper administrative channels," an official stated.
Administrative representatives countered that Dutta did not formally raise these specific structural objections during previous scheduled committee review meetings, asserting that all necessary regulatory procedures are being followed.
What to Expect Now
Following this high-profile exit, public and legal friction regarding floodplain zoning is set to intensify. Environmental advocacy groups and local citizen collectives are preparing to file petitions in judicial forums, demanding the immediate public disclosure of the withheld EIA and DPR documents.
While legal hurdles and demands for retroactive environmental clearances threaten to stall progress, the state government remains heavily driven. Backed by a fresh budgetary allocation of nearly ₹1,000 crore, contractors are pushing to clear logistical bottlenecks. The administration aims to fast-track and complete the final remaining phases of the expressway by the mid-2026 deadline.
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