NBT Conclave: Lucknow must prioritise water reuse, say experts
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Lucknow: City authorities must prioritise water reuse systems to reduce dependence on depleting groundwater reserves, experts said at the 'Bhujal Suraksha, Bhavishya Ki Raksha' event organised by Navbharat Times and the UP groundwater department on Friday.
Former Lucknow municipal commissioner and current director of UP NEDA Inderjit Singh highlighted the city's advances in wastewater treatment. Lucknow generates 770–800 million litres of sewage daily, of which 120 MLD is treated at jal nigam's GH canal-based plant. Advanced technology brings BOD and COD levels below 10 and with tertiary treatment, the water is safe for reuse.
This treated water can refill urban lakes like Butler Lake, can be used to clean roads, irrigate over 2,400 parks and support construction, Metro and fire services.
"Using recycled water not only eases groundwater demand but also improves air quality by reducing dust," he said. He cited Kathauta Lake—now filled with treated canal water—as an example that reduced dependence on deep tubewells in Gomtinagar and Indiranagar.
Ongoing desilting by Jalkal is expected to further enhance the lake's capacity.
Singh warned that over-extraction pushed tube wells to depths beyond 200 metres in some areas—a trend that reuse initiatives can help reverse.
LDA vice-chairman Prathmesh Kumar said rainwater harvesting is mandatory for buildings over 300 sq-mt and smaller colonies are being encouraged to adopt shared recharge structures. He also spoke of lake restoration projects—Butler Lake, Kalapahad Jheel and Udyan Lake—linking them with stormwater recharge in urban planning.
Architect Anupam Mittal stressed reviving rooftop harvesting and traditional systems like wells.
"The earth is a natural filter," he said, citing successful conservation efforts in Kanpur.
WaterAid India's state programme director Smriti Singh said water use and reuse should be integrated at the project planning stage. She highlighted the role of women in water management and recommended recharging dug wells in chemically contaminated areas.
Dibyajyoti Halder from CMS called schools "change agents" and advocated water audits and awareness campaigns involving students.
In an earlier session, hydrogeologist R S Sinha of the groundwater action group said UP uses nearly 20 billion cubic litres of water annually for sugarcane farming. Extraction from deep layers brings harmful minerals, affecting crops and human health. He noted a 15% decline in rainfall and urged area-specific groundwater planning using current data.
Yogesh Bandhu Arya, state coordinator of the 2030 water resources group, said 42% of UP's irrigation relies on canals.
Under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, micro-irrigation campaigns will begin in 20 villages to promote efficient water use.
Dr Asad Umar from Aga Khan Foundation India stressed the need for public awareness. Dr Venkatesh Dutta, head of environmental science at BBAU, said the monsoon period reduced from 18 to 12–15 days, causing runoff and poor recharge. Despite a 45,000-km river network, effective water management remains a challenge.
In closing, Dr Asad called for decentralised groundwater governance through community participation. Dr Dutta urged reuse and nature-based water return. V K Upadhyay emphasised mass awareness. Arya highlighted that 80% of clean water goes to irrigation, which can be cut through micro-irrigation. Sinha concluded by citing how Kathauta lake now meets Gomtinagar and Indiranagar's water needs, replacing deep borewell dependence.
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