Archive · 13 Aug 2026
UP Plans 45-Drain Sewage Network to Clean Lucknow's Gomti River
The government in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh wants to make the Gomti River clean.
The river flows through the city of Lucknow for about 30 kilometers.
Dirty water from homes, called sewage, was flowing straight into the river.
Officials used a drone to look at the river and found 45 drains that carry dirty water into it.
They plan to build special cleaning plants, called sewage treatment plants, that clean the water before it goes into the river.
Some cleaning plants already exist in the city, and new ones will be built in different areas like Basant Kunj, Wazirganj, Jiamau, and Neelmatha.
Twelve drains have already been fixed so their dirty water gets cleaned.
The plan also includes improving and repairing older cleaning plants at Bharwara and Daulatganj.
When the work is finished, the Gomti River should be much cleaner for the people and animals that live near it.
The Uttar Pradesh government has prepared an action plan under the Namami Gange programme to free Lucknow's Gomti River from sewage pollution.
A drone survey identified 45 drains discharging into the Gomti, 12 more than the 33 previously listed in municipal records.
Lucknow generates about 546.77 MLD of domestic sewage, while actual discharge is roughly 880.70 MLD; 10 existing STPs have a combined capacity of about 629.5 MLD.
Proposed new STPs of 160 MLD at Basant Kunj, 65 MLD at Wazirganj, 150 MLD at Jiamau, and 65 MLD at Neelmatha will treat the remaining 28 untapped and partially tapped drains.
The integrated rejuvenation report was submitted to the National Mission for Clean Ganga in New Delhi on May 6, 2026, with projects like Barikalan and Loniyapurwa targeted for completion by October 2026 and June 2027.
Around 75 MLD from 12 drains has already been tapped, and five drains were found not to require tapping.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh government, under the Yogi administration, working through the State Drinking Water and Sanitation Mission and the Namami Gange programme.
- What
- A comprehensive action plan to prevent sewage from 45 drains polluting the Gomti River by tapping drains, building new sewage treatment plants, and upgrading existing ones.
- When
- Reported on August 13, 2026; the rejuvenation report was submitted to the NMCG on May 6, 2026, with projects targeted for completion between October 2026 and June 2027.
- Where
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, along the approximately 30-kilometre stretch of the Gomti River flowing through the city.
- Why
- To reduce river pollution by ensuring untreated sewage does not flow directly into the Gomti River and by making effective use of available treatment capacity.
- Drains identified
- 45 (33 earlier listed, 12 newly found via drone survey)
- Est. Lucknow population (2026)
- Approximately 45.56 lakh
- Households connected to sewerage
- About 4.01 lakh of 7.52 lakh (53.32%)
- Actual sewage discharge
- Approximately 880.70 MLD (690.33 MLD via drains, 190.71 MLD via sewers)
- Existing STPs
- 10 plants with combined capacity of about 629.5 MLD
- Proposed new STP capacity
- 440 MLD across Basant Kunj, Wazirganj, Jiamau, and Neelmatha
- Report submitted to NMCG
- May 6, 2026, New Delhi