Lucknow: Lucknow has been grappling with severe water logging issues, especially during the monsoon season. The recent heavy rains have exacerbated the problem, leading to significant disruptions in daily life, including traffic congestion, damage to infrastructure, and health hazards due to stagnant water.
Heavy rains in Lucknow have exposed the chinks in the Municipal Corporation armour. As the rain gods unleashed their furious side, reports of waterlogging in many areas of the city was commonplace. Traffic came to a standstill at many places. The situation was such that Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Municipal Corporation headquarters were also flooded.
Reportedly the Meteorological Department had already issued a heavy rain alert. People were suggested to stay at home and not to go out of the house during heavy rain. The heavy rain created flood-like conditions at many places in the city.
Talking about the ground floor of the UP Legislative Assembly, it was completely submerged. Photos of the flooded rooms fast became viral, even the stuff kept there got wet. Videos of the Assembly surfaced in which it was clear that the employees were taking out water with buckets.
With utter chaos in city with just one day’s torrential rain, Lucknow’s poor condition raised alarm bells. With one day’s rain, water was reported inside Vidhan Sabha, Municipal Corporation and CM Yogi was also trapped. These scenes begged the question are there simply no lessons learnt? When the VIP areas are not safe what about the common public? What is the LMC doing about poor drainage?
When an employee of the Vidhan Sabha was asked about this waterlogging, he said that such conditions have never happened before. The situation has become so bad that water is leaking from the roof, due to which the situation has become more difficult.
Due to waterlogging, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself got trapped inside the House. However, later he came out from an alternate gate. In the video, it can be seen that the Chief Minister is coming out with security personnel.
Waterlogging was also seen in the Hazratganj area near the Vidhan Sabha. Due to which the movement of vehicles was badly affected. Water entered many offices. Water filled inside the Municipal Corporation headquarters located near Hazratganj.
SP leader Shivpal Yadav has taken a jibe at the way waterlogging was seen in the Vidhan Sabha due to heavy rains. He posted a video on social media and wrote that the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly needs the most budget. If this is the condition in a torrential rain, then the rest of the state is at the mercy of God.
Lucknow’s Municipal Challenges: A Complex Issue
Lucknow, despite its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, faces several challenges in its role as a municipality. While it’s a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, some key areas of concern include:
Infrastructure and Urban Planning
Poor Drainage System: The city’s drainage infrastructure is inadequate to handle heavy rainfall, leading to overflowing drains and water accumulation on streets and residential areas.
Rapid Urbanization: Unplanned urban development has reduced the natural absorption capacity of the soil, increasing runoff and contributing to water logging.
Encroachment and Blockages: Illegal constructions and encroachments on natural waterways and drainage channels impede the flow of water, causing blockages and backups.
Waste Management Issues: Improper disposal of solid waste, including plastic, often clogs drainage systems, exacerbating the water logging problem.
Waste Management and Sanitation
Garbage Disposal: The city struggles with efficient waste collection and disposal, leading to environmental issues and health hazards.
Open Defecation: Despite efforts, open defecation remains a problem in certain areas, affecting public health and sanitation.
Lack of Accountability: Insufficient accountability among officials leads to poor performance and delays in project implementation.
Financial Constraints
Limited Resources: Insufficient funds for infrastructure development, maintenance, and service delivery.
Revenue Generation: Challenges in generating adequate revenue to meet the city’s growing needs.
Municipal Response and Measures
The Lucknow municipality has initiated several measures to address the water logging issue:
Drainage System Upgrades: Plans are underway to upgrade and expand the city’s drainage infrastructure to improve its capacity to handle heavy rainfall.
Regular Maintenance: Increased efforts to clean and maintain existing drains, removing blockages and ensuring proper flow of water.
Anti-Encroachment Drives: Crackdowns on illegal constructions and encroachments on drainage channels to restore natural water flow.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating citizens on the importance of proper waste disposal and the impact of littering on drainage systems.
Emergency Response Teams: Deployment of emergency response teams during heavy rains to manage and mitigate water logging in affected areas.
Despite these efforts, sustained improvement will require a long-term commitment to infrastructure development, effective urban planning, and active community participation in maintaining a cleaner and more resilient city environment.
