LUCKNOW, Feb. 1 -- A day after Hindustan Times highlighted the presence of an open dumping site along the Gomti riverbank, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) on Sunday launched a clean-up drive.

HT had reported on Sunday that a site near Jhulelal Vatika and the Katki Mela ground had been turned into an open dumping zone, exposing gaps in monitoring and post-event waste management, despite the state government spending crores on cleaning and beautifying the Gomti.

LMC chief engineer (mechanical and electrical) Manoj Prabhat said heavy machinery and manpower had been deployed at the site. "A heavy earthmover and a boat have been pressed into service to remove waste from the riverbank and from within the river. Zone-3 officials have a...