LUCKNOW, Aug. 1 -- The state government has given its nod to Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for the Rs 350-crore Urban Flood Risk Mitigation Programme to tackle the city's chronic waterlogging problem. The proposal has now been forwarded to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for final clearance, bringing the flood management plan closer to execution. The plan has an estimated cost of Rs 350 cr, of which Rs 200 cr will be sought from the National Disaster Management Fund (NDMF) through the NDMA, while the UP government will contribute the remaining Rs 150 crore. Under the project, around Rs 244.8 crore has been earmarked for strengthening drainage infrastructure, rejuvenating ponds and lakes, developing blue-green infrastructure, creating riparian buffers and replacing ageing pumping stations. Another Rs 105.2 crore has been allocated for floodplain zoning, pump automation, preparation of a blue-green master plan, an early warning and decision support system and a state-level flood control room. htc...