Lucknow Development Authority Greenlights New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure
The Lucknow Development Authority has taken a significant step toward improving the city's water management system by clearing the way for establishing new sewage treatment plants in key areas. This initiative aims to address the persistent problem of untreated sewage flowing into the Gomti River, which has been a major environmental concern for the city.
Strategic Locations for Pollution Control
According to SP Saroj, the executive engineer of Jal Nigam (rural) who supervises the Namami Gange project implementation in Lucknow, the authority has issued a letter allotting land for two crucial STPs. "A letter was sent to LDA through the divisional commissioner proposing three STPs. LDA has issued a letter allotting land for two of them. This is a very positive development," Saroj confirmed.
The planned facilities include:
- A 60 million litres per day (MLD) STP at Wazirganj that will intercept three major drains: NER upstream, NER downstream, and the Wazirganj drain itself
- A 130-132 MLD STP proposed at Jiamau to handle overflow from four significant drains: GH canal, Jopling road, Jiamau, and La Martiniere
Comprehensive Pollution Mitigation Strategy
These projects form part of a broader strategy to intercept sewage from some of Lucknow's most problematic drains, including Nagariya, Sarkata, Wazirganj, Jiamau, and Mastemau. An additional STP is proposed at Basantkunj specifically to tackle sewage overflow from Nagariya, Sarkata, and Basantkunj areas.
"Once this plant becomes operational, untreated water from this stretch will no longer reach the Gomti," Saroj emphasized regarding the Jiamau facility.
Current Infrastructure and Challenges
Despite Lucknow currently operating six main STPs with a combined capacity of approximately 584 MLD, significant challenges remain. Around 11 drains continue to discharge untreated sewage into the Gomti River. While water from 31 of the city's 38 drains is routed to existing treatment plants, seven remain completely untreated and four experience overflow issues.
This infrastructure gap results in nearly 330 MLD of untreated waste entering the river daily, highlighting the urgent need for expanded treatment capacity.
Project Implementation Timeline and Funding
All proposed projects will receive funding from the central government under the Namami Gange program through the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). For the Basantkunj STP alone, a detailed project report has been submitted to NMCG with an estimated cost of Rs 671 crore for a proposed 145 MLD facility.
Saroj outlined the implementation process: "After site visits and third-party inspections from institutions like IIT Roorkee or Jamia Millia Islamia, proposals are placed before NMCG. Following approval, the tender process takes about six months, construction 18 months, and a 3-month trial run, making STPs operational in about 2.5 years."
Environmental Impact and Expert Opinion
Professor Venkatesh Dutta, head of environmental sciences at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, commented on the initiative's importance: "The impact of untreated sewage is visible along the Gomti. Making STPs will be beneficial for the river."
The Wazirganj plant alone is expected to stop at least 40 MLD of sewage overflow that currently enters the Gomti, while the comprehensive approach aims to significantly reduce pollution from multiple critical points along the river's course through Lucknow.
