LUCKNOW: Alambagh, a bustling area in Lucknow, is confronting a looming water crisis as groundwater levels have plummeted to a precarious depth of 270 feet, far below the normal range of 100-120 feet. This concerning development jeopardizes water security for approximately five lakh residents across the affected wards. Officials from the Jalkal department, responsible for water management in the area, have indicated that four out of nine wards are already grappling with acute water scarcity. Further exacerbation of the situation could potentially impact all wards, with three out of four water strata already depleted.
The dependence on groundwater extraction is exacerbated by the absence of surface water supply options available in other areas of Lucknow, such as Aishbagh and Kathauta, which benefit from water sourced from the Gomti river and the Indira Canal. Currently, Alambagh requires 8 million litres per day (MLD) of water, but only 4.5 MLD is being supplied through 44 tube wells. The average discharge rate from these wells has declined to 736 liters per minute (LPM) due to the diminishing groundwater levels. To mitigate the shortfall, authorities are in the process of constructing six mini tube wells, each with a discharge rate of 500 LPM, along with one large tube well capable of 1000 LPM.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted the drastic decline in groundwater levels over the past two decades. Initially found at a manageable depth, the groundwater table has steadily dropped—first to 120 feet in ten years, then to 160 feet within the subsequent five years, and most recently reaching an alarming 270 feet.
The impact of this crisis is felt keenly in over 100 localities, including Azad Nagar, Kailashpuri, Om Nagar, and Arjunnagar, where residents continue to face significant challenges in accessing adequate water supply. Sachin Yadav, executive engineer overseeing zone 5, acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that water supply in areas like Azad Nagar heavily relies on tanker deliveries.
As efforts intensify to address this escalating crisis, stakeholders are under pressure to implement sustainable solutions to safeguard water resources and ensure resilience against future water shortages in Alambagh.
