The city produces an estimated 657 kilolitres (KLD) of faecal sludge every day, largely from septic tanks in areas without sewer connections. Against this, it has treatment capacity of only 100 kiloliters per day, leaving a substantial gap in safe waste management. Lucknow is generating nearly seven times more faecal sludge than its treatment infrastructure can handle.
Even this limited capacity is not being fully utilised. Lucknow currently has no standalone faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP). The Bharwara facility is a co-treatment unit within an existing STP. She also called for tracking tanker operators and ensuring discharge only at authorised facilities.
The 100-KLD faecal-sludge co-treatment facility at the 345-MLD (million litres per day) Bharwara sewage treatment plant (STP) has struggled to receive adequate sludge, with tankers often unloading at nearby sewage-pumping stations instead of travelling to the designated facility. Sanctioned under the AMRUT programme at around ₹ 3.15 crore, it was completed in February 2022. Around 280 KLD of sludge was being collected against estimated generation of 657 KLD, according to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) assessment. With only 100 KLD treatment capacity, the existing facility can theoretically handle about 15% of daily generation. More recent CSE monitoring continues to list co-treatment capacity at 100 KLD, with utilisation at around 40%.
Former additional municipal commissioner and urban development expert PK Srivastava said the capacity deficit was only part of the problem. “The CSE assessment found around 50 private desludging operators registered with the Jal Kal department/Lucknow Municipal Corporation, with many taking collected sludge to the nearest sewage-pumping station instead of Bharwara,” he said. Mayor Sushma Kharakwal said the city could develop decentralised FSTPs and co-treatment facilities, particularly in areas outside the sewerage network. “I will direct the municipal commissioner to develop FSTPs for safety of environment,” she said. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar said he had sought a complete report on areas without sewer lines and that sewer treatment would be more regulated.
