Lucknow, October 14, 2025: The ambitious Clean Gomti initiative, aimed at restoring the ecological health of Lucknow’s lifeline, faces a critical bottleneck as the proposed construction of seven new sewage treatment plants (STPs) remains stalled due to delays in land allocation.

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (UPJN), responsible for the city’s water infrastructure, had proposed building STPs at major sewage outfall points across the city, including Jiamau, Wazirganj, Nilmatha, CGPS, Mastemau, Pipraghat, and Alinagar nullah. The goal is to intercept untreated wastewater before it enters the Gomti River, which continues to suffer from chronic pollution and ecological degradation.

Land Allocation Delays

Despite a formal request for 20.81 hectares of land, officials say progress has stalled. The required land is under the jurisdiction of Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), and the State Housing Board, but responses have been slow or non-committal despite repeated follow-ups.

A detailed breakdown of land requirements for the proposed STPs is as follows:

• Jiamau: 9.24 hectares
• Wazirganj: 4.2 hectares
• Nilmatha: 4.34 hectares
• CGPS near Lakshman Mela ground: 2.60 hectares
• Mastemau: 0.22 hectares
• Pipraghat: 0.77 hectares
• Alinagar nullah: 0.07 hectares

“Without land, we cannot even begin preliminary steps like soil testing or DPR preparation. Every day of delay directly affects the river,” said a UPJN official.

Progress on Other STPs

Recent reviews under the State Ganga Cleanliness Mission indicate that 26 of Lucknow’s 33 drains have already been “tapped,” meaning their wastewater is now diverted to treatment facilities rather than entering the Gomti. However, seven major drains continue to pollute the river.

Several other high-capacity STPs are at various stages of development:

• Daulatganj (39 MLD): Almost completed and functional
• Barikala (3.5 MLD): Under construction
• Loniyapurwa (50 MLD): Under construction
• Bharwara Phase III (75 MLD) for Gomti Nagar: Under construction, awaiting budget
• Basant Kunj (120 MLD): In development stage

Officials note that these projects, once operational, could significantly restore the ecological balance of the Gomti, which has long suffered due to under-capacity treatment infrastructure. Existing STPs struggle to handle the city’s daily sewage output, resulting in millions of litres of untreated wastewater entering the river daily.

Environmental Concerns

The Gomti has undergone multiple clean-up drives over the years, but progress has often been hampered by inadequate infrastructure and administrative delays. The current plan, which proposes localized STPs at outfall points, represents a decentralized approach to intercept sewage before it enters the river.

Environmentalists warn that continued inaction could further deteriorate the river’s ecosystem, already stressed by high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels and declining aquatic life.

Ranjit Singh, a river activist recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program for clean-up initiatives, said:

“Funds and technology are in place, but red tape is choking progress. Unless land-owning bodies act swiftly, the Clean Gomti initiative risks becoming another lost opportunity. The success of any project hinges entirely on whether the city’s institutions can align on a common goal, before the damage becomes irreversible.”

Stuck in Limbo

A senior Jal Nigam official highlighted that the Gomti clean-up was envisioned as a transformative step in urban environmental management by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. However, without immediate intervention to resolve land allocation issues and improve inter-agency coordination, the plan risks becoming yet another missed opportunity.

Ranjit Singh added:

“Unless land-owning bodies expedite the process, the Clean Gomti initiative may remain yet another well-intentioned plan stuck in limbo — while the river continues to bear the burden as seven major nullahs are still falling directly into it without effluent treatment.”

---