Nearly nine months after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to expedite efforts to clean and revive the Gomti, a dredging proposal involving a large-scale logistics operation is being considered after 25 years to restore the ecological health of the river.
The move comes as government agencies and experts are working to tackle the dual challenge – one in the form of completely stopping the flow of sewage on the river surface and the other in the form of millions of tonnes of silt, mud and sediment deposited beneath it. This accumulation has buried large sections of the river, weakening the river’s natural flow and recharge capacity.
The Gomti Task Force’s dredging recommendation comes as the state government is taking forward the ambitious Gomti Revival Mission announced by the Chief Minister.
Environmental experts have identified about 1.5 meters of silt and mud deposited on the sand of the Gomati river bed.
Initial estimates suggest that removing the deposits may require the transportation of more than 8,000 to 10,000 truckloads of dredged material, which would make it one of the largest river-cleaning operations undertaken in the city in recent decades.
The Gomti Task Force, a group of environmentalists, river experts and government stakeholders involved in river restoration exercises, has proposed scientific dredging of a 20-km stretch of the river that flows through Lucknow. This was recommended to the state government. The last dredging exercise was conducted in 2001.
Simultaneously, government agencies continue to work to address the water surface challenge by blocking drains and preventing untreated sewage from entering the river.
CM’s deadline for river revitalization
Addressing a Chhath Puja gathering at Laxman Mela Ghat in Lucknow in October last year, the Chief Minister had announced that all drains and sewers carrying untreated waste water into the Gomti would be tapped within one and a half years.
Describing Gomti as a symbol of cultural consciousness, spiritual heritage and environmental identity of Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister emphasized that the restoration of the river would be treated as a priority mission involving multiple departments including irrigation, urban development, municipal corporation and water corporation. The first meeting of the GTF was held last year under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner.
crisis hidden under water
While drainage projects are visible on the surface, environmentalists say the more serious problem lies below the waterline.
According to preliminary assessments by river experts, about 1.5 meters of silt, mud and sediment has accumulated in many parts of the Gomti river in Lucknow. The deposits have gradually increased over decades due to continuous flow of sewage, urban runoff, soil erosion and solid waste dumping.
Professor Venkatesh Dutta, member of the Gomti Task Force, said, “Recently, when the gates of the Gomti Barrage were changed by the Irrigation Department, we took samples of the silt and mud deposited on the river bed. We found that there is about 1.5 meter of silt deposited on the river bed, which needs to be cleaned immediately. The members of the Gomti Task Force have been raising the demand to clean the Gomti river bed through dredging and every means.”
The layer of sediment has significantly reduced the depth and carrying capacity of the river. As a result, water movement has slowed, stagnant areas have increased, and the river’s natural ability to dilute and clean pollutants has weakened.
Dutta, who has been associated with Gomti conservation efforts, said the accumulated silt has also affected groundwater recharge works that are important for maintaining water availability in the area.
He said, “The river has lost a large part of its natural depth. Sediment accumulation has reduced the storage capacity and affected groundwater connectivity with the river system. Unless the deposits are removed scientifically, restoration efforts may remain incomplete.”
What is dredging?
Dredging is the process of removing accumulated silt, sand, mud and other sediment from the bottom of rivers, lakes or reservoirs using special machinery.
Its objective is to restore the original depth and carrying capacity of the water body. Dredging improves water flow, reduces stagnation, increases oxygen levels and can help improve the ecological health of the river.
For the Gomti, environmentalists believe that dredging could significantly improve the condition of the river by restoring flow velocity and reducing stagnant zones where pollutants accumulate.
Dredging was last done in 2001
The last major dredging operation on the Gomti was carried out in 2001, when authorities deployed dredging equipment to clear the stretch between Gau Ghat and Gomti Barrage in Lucknow.
In this exercise which lasted for a month, a large amount of sand and silt was removed from the river bed at an estimated cost of about Rs 20 crore. ₹2 crores. Since then, no significant dredging activity has been carried out.
The irony is that experts point out that in 2001, Lucknow was a much smaller urban settlement than it is today. The city has expanded dramatically over the past two decades, resulting in greater sewage production, increased surface runoff, greater encroachment pressure and a larger pollution load on the river.
Environmentalists estimate that the amount of sediment currently deposited in the river is several times greater than that removed during the 2001 operation.
Can dredged sludge be used?
One of the questions being examined by officials is whether the dredged material can be reused.
Experts say a significant portion of the sediment is composed of sand and natural silt, which after proper testing can potentially be used for land filling, low-lying area development, landscaping or construction-related filling purposes.
However, some parts of the sludge contaminated with sewage and industrial pollutants may require scientific disposal to avoid environmental risks.
Environmentalists recommend detailed laboratory analysis before implementing any reuse plan.
is not the only solution
Despite advances in drain harnessing, untreated waste water remains a major concern.
Lucknow generates about 700 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage, while the treatment infrastructure currently handles only a fraction of that volume. Authorities are expanding treatment capacity through upgrades and new sewage treatment plants.
Environmental groups argue that dredging alone cannot revive the river unless the flow of sewage is stopped completely.
He has also called for installing protective screens at the drain outlets to prevent plastic waste and floating garbage from entering the river.
According to river activists, around 10 metric tonnes of solid waste enters the Gomti every day through drains and direct dumping.
Gomti Task Force reviews revival plan
This issue was discussed recently during the meeting of the Gomti Task Force, which is reviewing and finalizing the action plan under the Gomti Revival Mission.
Major General Salil Seth, Brigadier Navtej Singh Sohal, Brigadier C Madhwal, Colonel Arvind S Prasad, Lieutenant Colonel Sachin Rana, Lieutenant Colonel Saurabh Mehrotra, Major KS Negi, environmental expert Dr. Venkatesh Dutta and other senior officers were present in the meeting organized with the help of Territorial Army.
The task force is expected to evaluate proposals related to dredging, sewage interception, river bank management, wetland restoration and public participation in conservation efforts.
‘Opportunity to restore the natural flow of the river’
Upendra Singh, chief engineer, irrigation department, said, “We have repaired the gates of the Gomti barrage, but the Gomti needs to be cleaned. The dredging exercise is an opportunity to restore the natural depth and flow of the Gomti after almost a quarter of a century. But it requires money and machines. The revival of the river will depend on a comprehensive approach of dredging, complete sewage diversion, better treatment infrastructure, restoration of wetlands and protection of flood plains. For this, the Municipal Corporation will have to play an important role.”
However, Manoj Prabhat, chief engineer of garbage disposal involved in cleaning the Gomti, said, “The expertise for dredging lies with the irrigation department and last time the dredging was done by the irrigation department itself. So this time if dredging is done, it should be done by the irrigation department which has the expertise and manpower.”
Mayor Sushma Kharkwal said the Gomti Reclamation Mission is now underway and dredging is being seriously considered for the first time in 25 years.
Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar said, “The Municipal Corporation has always done its part to restore the sanctity of Gomti. If directed, the Municipal Corporation will help the Irrigation Department in dredging and desilting the river.”
