The Gomti, considered to be a lifeline of Lucknow and one of Uttar Pradesh’s most important rivers, is witnessing a renewed and comprehensive conservation effort under the Yogi Adityanath government. The approach has moved beyond isolated cleaning exercises to a structured strategy centred on sewage interception, drain tapping, flow diversion, sewage treatment capacity and river rejuvenation.The latest action plan prepared under the Namami Gange programme seeks to address one of the biggest challenges facing the Gomti in Lucknow—untreated sewage entering the river through urban drains. A drone survey has identified 45 drains flowing into the Gomti, compared with 33 drains previously recorded in municipal records. The discovery of 12 additional drains has prompted the state government to prepare a wider sewage-management plan covering all major discharge points.The Gomti flows for nearly 30 kilometres through Lucknow, making the management of wastewater generated by the rapidly expanding city crucial for the river’s health. Lucknow’s estimated population in 2026 is around 45.56 lakh, spread across 110 wards and approximately 7.52 lakh households. At present, around 4.01 lakh households—53.32 per cent—are connected to the sewerage network, highlighting the scale of the remaining challenge.From drain tapping to treatmentThe government’s strategy is based on a simple but important principle: polluted water should be intercepted before it reaches the river. Instead of allowing sewage to flow untreated through drains into the Gomti, the drains are being tapped and their flows diverted towards Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).Of the 45 identified drains, discharge from 12 drains, amounting to approximately 75 MLD, has already been tapped. Five drains have been found not to require tapping. The remaining 28 drains, including untapped and partially tapped drains, carry approximately 260 MLD of discharge.Lucknow currently has 10 STPs with a combined treatment capacity of around 629.5 MLD. However, the gap between sewage generation, actual discharge and available treatment capacity makes it necessary to expand both the sewerage network and treatment infrastructure. The government is therefore pursuing a multi-pronged plan to ensure that existing treatment capacity is effectively utilised while additional capacity is created wherever required.Under Namami Gange, a 39 MLD STP was completed in November 2024, while work is underway to tap an untapped drain and divert around 3.5 MLD of sewage to the Barikalan STP. This project is targeted for completion by October 2026. Similarly, two untapped drains and one partially tapped drain are being connected to the 50 MLD Loniyapurwa STP, with completion targeted for June 2027.
Ambitious new sewage infrastructure
The integrated rejuvenation plan submitted to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on May 6, 2026, envisages a substantial expansion of sewage-treatment infrastructure. The Pre-Feasibility Report proposes linking the remaining untapped and partially tapped drains to new treatment facilities, including a 160 MLD STP at Basant Kunj, a 65 MLD STP at Wazirganj, a 150 MLD STP at Jiamau and a 65 MLD STP at Neelmatha.Together, these proposed facilities represent a major addition to Lucknow’s sewage-treatment capacity and are intended to ensure that large volumes of wastewater are treated rather than discharged directly into the Gomti.The plan also incorporates decentralised and nature-based solutions. A nature-based treatment system at Mastemau drain, a 750 KLD modular STP at Pipraghat and a 100 KLD modular STP at Ghaila are proposed. Such modular systems can be particularly useful in locations where conventional large-scale sewerage infrastructure may be difficult to deploy quickly.Existing infrastructure is also being strengthened. The Bharwara STP is proposed for upgradation, along with repairs to 19 connected drains. The Daulatganj STP is also slated for upgradation, with repairs to two associated drains.This combination of new STPs, upgraded plants, drain repairs and interception infrastructure reflects an integrated approach to river conservation rather than treating sewage management as a standalone activity.
A statewide campaign against river pollution
The Gomti initiative is part of a broader effort by the Yogi government to reduce pollution in rivers across Uttar Pradesh. The state has placed considerable emphasis on sewage treatment and interception under Namami Gange, recognising that urban wastewater is among the principal pressures on rivers passing through major cities.The strategy includes expanding sewerage networks, constructing and upgrading STPs, tapping drains and ensuring that sewage is treated before it reaches rivers. The objective is to address pollution at its source rather than relying solely on downstream cleaning.This approach is particularly important because rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ramganga, Varuna and other tributaries pass through densely populated urban and industrial areas. As cities grow, increasing volumes of domestic wastewater require corresponding treatment infrastructure.In this context, drain mapping and surveys have become an important component of river management. The Gomti drone survey demonstrates how technology can help identify previously unrecorded pollution sources and improve planning. Accurate identification of drains allows authorities to prioritise interception works and determine the treatment capacity required at different locations.
Beyond cleaning to rejuvenation
The government’s Gomti plan also signals a shift from merely removing visible pollution to long-term river rejuvenation. A healthy river requires not only reduced sewage discharge but also better management of its catchment, drains, wastewater infrastructure and surrounding urban environment.For Lucknow, this is particularly significant because the Gomti is deeply connected with the city’s ecological, cultural and economic identity. Reducing sewage inflows can improve water quality while also supporting the river’s wider ecological health.The scale of the challenge remains substantial. The city generates enormous quantities of wastewater, while sewer connectivity is still incomplete. Therefore, the success of the rejuvenation programme will depend not only on constructing STPs but also on ensuring that drains are properly connected, treatment plants operate efficiently and treated wastewater is managed according to prescribed standards.The Yogi government’s emerging model places these elements within one framework: identify every major pollution source, intercept sewage, divert it to treatment plants, augment treatment capacity and continuously monitor the system.The submission of the integrated Gomti rejuvenation plan to NMCG marks an important step in this direction. Once the proposed projects are implemented, untreated and partially treated sewage entering the Gomti is expected to decline significantly.The effort to clean the Gomti therefore represents more than a Lucknow-specific infrastructure programme. It is part of Uttar Pradesh’s larger endeavour to restore the health of its rivers by combining technology, sewage infrastructure, institutional planning and Namami Gange interventions. For a state whose rivers sustain millions of people, the message is clear: river conservation begins with stopping pollution at its source.
