Gorakhpur: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday criticised previous govts, alleging that lakes and ponds were either encroached upon or allowed to turn into centres of filth and criminal activity, but the current govt is prioritising their conservation, rejuvenation and sustainable development.Speaking after inaugurating the tourism development and beautification works at Chiluatal, completed at a cost of over Rs 20 crore, Yogi said that under past regimes, influential people treated water bodies as their personal property and built structures on them. Those that escaped encroachment gradually turned into dumping grounds and centres of criminal activities, he claimed.“The double-engine govt does not allow encroachments on ponds and lakes. Instead, it fulfils its responsibility towards environmental conservation and develops such sites as tourism destinations,” the chief minister said.Yogi announced that Chiluatal would be developed on the lines of Ramgarh Tal as a major eco-tourism and water sports hub. He also revealed plans to establish a 20 MW floating solar power plant at the lake in collaboration with Coal India Limited, describing it as a step towards promoting clean energy and achieving net-zero targets.He highlighted Chiluatal’s natural ecosystem, saying its water comes through forested areas and remains largely natural. Hecontrasted it with Ramgarh Tal, where treated water is discharged after extensive restoration efforts.Urging citizens to protect public assets and maintain cleanliness, Yogi said development projects can be sustained only through public participation. He also called for plantation drives, cleanliness campaigns and yoga camps between June 5 and June 21 to mark World Environment Day and International Yoga Day.Earlier, the chief minister inspected the newly developed lakeside facilities and planted a Harishankari sapling as a message of environmental conservation.
