Methane emissions from the Gomti River in Lucknow have triggered alarm among researchers and civic groups, following a field survey that exposed visible bubbling and untreated sewage flowing directly into the river near the Sarkata Nala confluence.
The April 9 survey, led by professor Venkatesh Dutta of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), included municipal engineers, students, and members of the ecological task force, who now classify the site as a “climate risk zone.” Despite the presence of a 56 million litre per day (MLD) sewage treatment plant (STP) at Daulatganj, raw sewage continues to pour into the Gomti, bypassing treatment protocols. “The stench of sewage was overpowering,” said professor Dutta. “What should have been treated water is entering the river as raw waste, creating multiple hotspots of methane bubbles.” The methane is generated from anaerobic decomposition in oxygen-deprived sediment—an outcome of high organic pollution and stagnant conditions. Drone footage taken during the survey confirmed methane bubbling across several locations, indicating a large-scale environmental issue along the river’s stretch.
A barrage downstream is further compounding the crisis by reducing water flow, worsening stagnation, and encouraging the buildup of methane and nitrous oxide. These potent greenhouse gases contribute to both localised ecological damage and broader climate change impacts. Yet, experts believe such emissions from urban rivers remain largely undocumented. Major Kanwardeep Nagi of the ecological task force said the findings have been submitted to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. “As temperatures rise and water levels drop in summer, emissions intensify while oxygen levels fall. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is alarmingly high. The Gomti is no longer just a polluted river—it is now a clear climate risk zone.” The survey team has recommended immediate interventions: ensuring full operational capacity of all sewage treatment plants, removing obstructive structures like barrages, regularly monitoring water quality, and preventing raw sewage discharge into urban rivers.
Chief engineer of rubbish removal, Lucknow Municipal Corporation, Manoj Prabhat confirmed that the report has reached the municipal commissioner and said that steps will be taken to safeguard the river’s health. As climate threats mount in Indian cities, the Gomti’s condition serves as a critical reminder of the costs of infrastructure neglect and unchecked urban waste.
