LUCKNOW, March 20 -- Finally, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has launched a drive to remove the thick layer of water hyacinth blanketing the Gomti near Kudiya Ghat. Officials deployed heavy machinery and boats to remove the floating green layer, which had started drifting towards the Gomti riverfront and other parts of the river in the state capital.

LMC official Manoj Prabhat said a municipal team got to work soon after the issue was brought to the officials' notice. "We have deployed four-five earthmovers and an equal number of boats to remove the water hyacinth. The drive started from Kudiya Ghat and will proceed towards the riverfront and even further," he said.

On March 18, HT, in a report titled "Gomti choked, water turns 'gr...