Choked Stretches Of Gomti Near Kudia Ghat Show Severe Algal Growth
A pronounced green carpet of algae has formed on stretches of the Gomti River near Kudia Ghat in Lucknow, illustrating mounting pressure on urban water quality amid stagnation and limited flow conditions.
Residents and environmental observers have expressed concern that the visible algal bloom — characterised by dense green surface scum — reflects a combination of nutrient overload, low dissolved oxygen levels and restricted water movement that together create conditions conducive to eutrophication. Footage circulating on social media shows large swathes of the river near the ghat covered with green growth, prompting questions about the state of the urban waterway at a time when municipal authorities are preparing for the upcoming bathing festivals and allied civic activities. While such natural bloom events can occur seasonally, experts warn that the intensity and persistence of the green mats are symptoms of deeper ecological stress linked to organic pollution entering the river system. Water quality scientists point to several interrelated factors contributing to the condition. Choked flow and water stagnation — often the result of reduced discharge rates and obstruction from encroachment, siltation or makeshift structures — limit the river’s capacity to self-purify.
When combined with high nutrient loads from untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and decomposing organic matter, the conditions favour rapid proliferation of algae and aquatic plants that dominate the water surface. The phenomenon has implications for both ecosystem health and urban livability. Dense algal growth can deplete dissolved oxygen in the water, threatening fish and other aquatic life, and may also produce odours and toxins hazardous to human contact. For communities that engage with the river for religious rites, recreation or local livelihoods, deteriorating water quality undermines the cultural and ecological value of the waterway. Local civic bodies, including the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s sanitation and water quality divisions, have been monitoring the situation with periodic sampling. Officials indicate that remedial measures such as mechanical removal of surface weeds or aeration interventions may be considered to improve flow and reduce stagnation.
However, such reactive steps are generally insufficient without concurrent reductions in pollution inputs and sustained improvements in wastewater collection and treatment. Urban planners emphasise that healthy rivers depend on both adequate inflows and controlled catchment management. In the case of the Gomti, stretches that experience low through-flow are particularly vulnerable to thermal stratification, nutrient build-up and algal dominance, especially during warmer months. Infrastructure enhancements such as constructed wetlands, expanded sewage interception networks and desilting at critical points can help restore more balanced hydrological and ecological regimes. The current green bloom on the Gomti also highlights broader challenges facing urban waterways across India, where rapid expansion, fragmented governance and limited enforcement of effluent standards often conspire to degrade water quality. Sustainable river management requires not just episodic clean-ups but integrated basin-level planning that aligns urban growth with ecological thresholds.
For Lucknow’s residents and planners alike, the visible transformation of the Gomti near Kudia Ghat serves as a stark visual reminder of the gap between aspirations for cleaner urban rivers and on-ground water quality realities. Addressing the root causes of pollution and stagnation will be central to preserving the river’s environmental health and the community benefits it supports.
