The department says the nigam did not seek proper permission from the department for setting up the plant.

“Earlier, the nigam had identified a different site for the project, which was close to the present location, and had sought a no-objection certificate for it. But, they changed the site without getting a formal approval from us,” said Hari Shankar, Superintendent Engineer, Irrigation Department.

He, however, added that the UPJN would have no major problem in getting their approval for the present site.

The department has asked the nigam to submit the revised project details and get the NOC as per the Northern India Canal & Drainage Act.

“We’ll see the technical feasibility of the project like the difference in the level of pumping station and the river,” another official of the irrigation department said.

Though the construction work at the present site has been temporarily stalled, the project manager of the Gomti Pollution Control Unit, A K Mittal, said that getting the permission would not be a “major issue”.

“We have gathered details of the project, and the required permission will be taken from the Irrigation Department soon,” Mittal told The Indian Express.

The Kukrail Sewage Pumping Station is an important component of the Gomti Action Plan, as when it is operational the pumping station is expected to divert half of the city’s sewage to a 345-mld capacity sewage treatment plant, which is yet to come up.

Nevertheless, the work at the station was earlier halted due to the objections raised by defence ministry.