Gorakhpur: As part of a statewide environmental initiative aimed at improving rural health and water quality, the Uttar Pradesh govt has decided to develop 100 ponds in every district as model ponds. DM Deepak Meena said that the initiative, directed by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, will ensure that selected ponds are made free from grey water discharge and plastic waste. The project will be implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) by the Panchayati Raj department through a campaign titled ‘Mera Talab Meri Zimmedari’. In the first phase, the drive will focus on villages with a population of more than 5,000.Officials said ponds in rural areas play a crucial role in groundwater recharge, irrigation, biodiversity conservation and community life. However, untreated grey water from kitchens, bathrooms and washing areas, along with plastic waste, has been polluting these water bodies, posing various health and environmental risks.Under the plan, selected ponds will be declared no-plastic zones. Plastic traps and filter chambers will be installed at drainage points to prevent waste from entering ponds. Bio-filter systems using gravel, sand and aquatic plants will be set up to treat grey water before discharge. Authorities will also measure biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels to assess improvements after restoration.Community-level monitoring will be ensured to sustain the initiative, with officials expecting a reduction in mosquito-borne diseases and a marked improvement in rural sanitation and environmental conditions. TNN
