Major Push to Clean Lucknow's Gomti River with New Sewage Plants
Jal Nigam (rural) will construct four new sewage treatment plants in Lucknow. This initiative aims to clean the Gomti River. The combined capacity of these plants will reach 342 million litres per day. They will stop untreated drain water from entering the river.
Targeting Major Polluting Drains
The proposed STPs will intercept sewage from some of Lucknow's largest drains. These include drains in Nagariya, Sarkata, Basant Kunj, Wazirganj, Jiamau, and Mastemau. Currently, these drains discharge untreated waste directly into the Gomti. This action significantly increases pollution levels within the city's stretch of the river.
Jal Nigam executive engineer SP Saroj confirmed the progress. He stated work continues on multiple projects. These projects aim to tap overflowing drains and divert sewage for proper treatment before it reaches the river.
Details of the Four Proposed Plants
Saroj provided specific details about each planned facility:
- Basant Kunj STP: A 145 MLD plant has been proposed here. It will treat sewage from the Nagariya drain, Sarkata drain, and one Basant Kunj sewer. The detailed project report for this plant was submitted to the National Mission for Clean Ganga in Delhi. The estimated cost is around Rs 671 crore.
- Wazirganj STP: This will be a 60 MLD facility. It is designed to tap three drains: NER upstream, NER downstream, and the Wazirganj drain.
- Jiamau STP: A larger 132 MLD plant is planned for Jiamau. It will intercept sewage from the GH Canal, Jopling Road, Jiamau, and La Martiniere College drains.
- Mastemau STP: A smaller 5 MLD plant will handle sewage from the Mastemau and Ekana drains.
These four STPs are part of a comprehensive action plan. At present, Lucknow operates six main STPs. Their combined operational capacity is approximately 584 MLD.
Current Status and Funding
Saroj explained the current submission status. The DPR for the Basant Kunj project has already been sent to NMCG. Preparation of DPRs for the remaining three projects awaits formal communication from NMCG. Once the required letter is received, the remaining DPRs will also be submitted for approval.
He highlighted an urgent problem. Currently, 11 drains overflow directly into the Gomti River.
The projects also await land allocation at the identified locations. The Lucknow Development Authority is expected to allot land after site inspections. Teams from the municipal corporation and Jal Nigam are conducting these inspections jointly. However, formal written permissions or no-objection certificates have not yet been issued.
Saroj provided crucial funding information. All projects will receive full funding from the central government. This funding comes under the Namami Gange programme through NMCG. The state government will not share any financial burden.
Visible Impact of Pollution
Meanwhile, environmental experts observe the clear impact of untreated sewage. Prof Venkatesh Dutta, head of environment sciences at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, described visible problems.
He pointed to specific locations along the Gomti. At a 500-metre stretch near the Rubber Dam close to La Martiniere College in Jiamau, foam forms on the water. A similar 1km stretch near the Bharwara STP also shows foam.
Water hyacinth infestation has spread near the Gomti Barrage. It also covers about 1km each near Pucca Pul and the Rubber Dam. This infestation restricts natural water flow in the river.
The new sewage treatment plants represent a critical step. They aim to address these visible signs of pollution and restore the health of the Gomti River for Lucknow's residents.
