LUCKNOW, Oct. 6 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday conducted aerial and ground inspections of several flood-affected areas along the Gomti river here, announcing that 70 to 80-km embankments would be constructed along the river as a "permanent solution" to inundation woes, from Bakshi Ka Talab in Lucknow up to Naimisharanya dham in Sitapur district. The water level in the Gomti increased significantly due to more than 802mm of rainfall across UP this monsoon - a record in a decade since 2017. The announcement assumes significance given the proposed State Capital Region (SCR) that will comprise six districts, including Lucknow, Sitapur, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Hardoi and Unnao. SCR will mean further expansion of Lucknow and more habitation expected in the region in the long term. The proposed region will have an area of 28,826 sq km and a population of 2.3 crore. "As suggested by the CM, the irrigation department will soon conduct a technical survey of the project," said Mukesh Kumar Vaish, executive engineer, irrigation department. Vaish said: "The irrigation department has also given its technical approval for construction of another embankment from Pucca Pul to IIM Road and up to Faizullaganj, roughly 3.6 kms. The work will be carried out by the Lucknow Development Authority." HT has already reported about this embankment that will bring relief to residents of Faizullaganj in the coming years. The CM directed the irrigation department to conduct a survey of the Gomti riverbank from Faizullaganj to Naimisharanya and prepare a detailed proposal for constructing embankments to prevent recurring flooding in affected areas of Lucknow. The proposed embankment is intended not only to hold back the river, but also to ensure that rainwater accumulating on the protected side can be pumped back into the river, the CM said during his visit to flood-affected villages in the BKT area. Adityanath said: "The irrigation department should survey the riverbank from Faizullaganj to Naimisharanya and initiate work at the earliest. Areas outside the embankment should also have proper drainage arrangements." "The idea is to ensure that even when the river rises, water does not remain trapped on the other side of the embankment.," the CM said, according to the state government's statement. Adityanath said over the past 10 days, more than 50 districts in UP had experienced heavy rainfall and this caused water levels of several rivers in the state to rise. "While the water level of the Gomti did not rise significantly in Lucknow initially, it subsequently increased as runoff from heavy rain in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, and Nepal flowed downstream after about five days," he added. During his visit, the CM interacted with affected residents and distributed relief material. He directed the administration to shift displaced families from open spaces to schools and marriage halls....