Lucknow's Drain Issues Highlight Municipal Sanitation Failures Ahead of Monsoon
Garbage-filled drains lay bare gaps in LMC’s pre-monsoon preparations
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, overflowing drains near hospitals and residential areas reveal significant shortcomings in the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's pre-monsoon sanitation efforts. Despite substantial annual expenditure on drain cleaning, many internal nullahs remain clogged, raising concerns about potential waterlogging and disease spread as the monsoon season approaches.
- 01Drains near the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Gomti Nagar are severely clogged, causing sewage overflow onto footpaths.
- 02Residents report that smaller internal nullahs are often neglected during cleaning operations, leading to sewage overflow.
- 03LMC environmental engineer Sanjeev Pradhan stated that drains under one meter in width are maintained by private agencies or the civic body.
- 04Lions Enviro and Lucknow Swachhta Abhiyan (LSA) are responsible for cleaning smaller drains in different zones.
- 05Residents allege that desilting work is often only performed on paper, with actual cleaning not taking place.
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In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, overflowing drains have exposed critical failures in the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's (LMC) pre-monsoon sanitation preparations. Despite spending crores annually on cleaning efforts, many internal nullahs remain clogged with waste, raising fears of waterlogging and the spread of vector-borne diseases. A recent inspection revealed serious issues, particularly behind the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Gomti Nagar, where sewage overflowed onto footpaths, creating an unsanitary environment for patients and staff. Similar problems were reported in the Ashiana area and near Lohia Park, where open drains were filled with garbage. Residents have voiced concerns that the LMC primarily focuses on larger drains during desilting, neglecting smaller internal nullahs that ultimately contribute to overflow issues. According to LMC environmental engineer Sanjeev Pradhan, smaller drains are managed by private agencies, but the effectiveness of these outsourced services has come into question. With recent rainfall exacerbating the situation, the lack of proper drainage maintenance poses significant risks for the upcoming monsoon season.
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The poor condition of drains could lead to severe waterlogging and health risks from vector-borne diseases, affecting residents' daily lives.
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