Lucknow revives key lake for summer relief

Kathauta lake in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar to avert a looming water crisis that affects nearly five lakh residents each summer.

With mercury levels rising and demand for potable water set to surge, the lake’s strategic importance has become central to the city’s water security. Civic authorities have commenced a 20-day intervention, focused on dredging and de-silting, to restore the lake’s functionality ahead of the scheduled closure of a key water source feeding it. The move has been timed meticulously, keeping in view the brief but critical annual shutdown of the canal that supplies water to the lake. By initiating desilting works in April and refilling the lake by the end of the month, the city administration aims to ensure uninterrupted water supply during the summer peak. At present, the lake holds an estimated five lakh cubic metres of silt, with almost one-third accumulated at the inlet, severely restricting the flow and storage of water. By targeting these deep sedimented layers, the city hopes to enhance the lake’s retention capability significantly and bolster its role as a buffer supply hub during outages.

To achieve this, a fleet of heavy-duty excavators and dumpers has been deployed around the clock. The removed silt, instead of being discarded, is being repurposed for various civic construction activities. This includes its planned use in road-laying, land levelling in informal settlements, and support for animal welfare infrastructure. Such circular utilisation of dredged material reflects a growing consciousness towards sustainable urban planning where waste is seen as a resource. While the lake currently provides only two to three days of emergency supply when canal flow is interrupted, this capacity is set to expand substantially once desilting is completed. To further reinforce long-term resilience, additional pumping infrastructure is also being considered, which would enable the lake to be cleaned even during partial refilling phases, ensuring minimal operational downtime. The broader objective is not only to maintain supply to high-density localities but also to leverage the ecological potential of the lake.

In a city where rapid urbanisation has placed immense pressure on natural water bodies, the revival of Kathauta lake signals a meaningful return to ecosystem-based urban water management. The effort, though technical in execution, is deeply human in its implications — safeguarding access to water, reducing the threat of seasonal shortages, and preserving a vital ecological asset that serves both people and nature. At a time when Indian cities are facing increasing climate vulnerabilities, this initiative offers a replicable model of civic foresight, preparedness, and sustainability.

Lucknow revives key lake for summer relief.