The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has ramped up the cleanliness drive in the city. This step aims to improve Lucknow's ranking in the Swachh Survekshan Survey. Under Commissioner Inderjit Singh’s directives, LMC's efforts focus on better garbage collection and maintaining cleaner streets.

While these measures are a step in the right direction, several other pressing issues demand the civic authorities' attention; these include:

Markets in Lucknow are battling a glaring issue of waste mismanagement, even the most prominent ones like- Hazratganj. Ganj as it is popularly called, has very evidently become a symbol of neglect with garbage piles accumulating in several key spots. The absence of dustbins along its stretches has made littering a common sight, while open urination near the famous Hanuman temple further raises hygiene issues too.

The situation is no different in Patrakarpuram Market of Gomti Nagar, where modern infrastructure contrasts starkly with overflowing trash and inadequate waste disposal. Similarly, both Bhootnath Market and Aminabad, grapple with indiscriminate littering and poor sanitation.

Residential areas in Lucknow face a growing menace of encroachments and unauthorized constructions. From extended ramps in front of gates to the illegal use of public spaces for private gardening and basement constructions, these violations are rampant, altering the city’s planned layout.

The problem extends to major travel hubs such as Charbagh Railway Station and Alambagh Bus Stand, where an excessive number of food stalls and street vendors encroach upon public spaces, leading to severe congestion. These unchecked encroachments highlight the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to restore order and improve the city’s livability.

Lucknow’s encroachment issue stretches beyond residential areas and markets, with temporary structures and small slums emerging under the city’s bridges. Homeless individuals seeking shelter are a common sight under the Gomti Nagar Bridge near Pickup Bhawan.

Slums can also be found under the Shaheed Path stretch near One Awadh Mall, Madiyaon Bridge, Nakhaas Bridge in Chowk. These areas, meant for free movement and safety, have become informal settlements, reflecting the city’s growing struggle with urban homelessness and inadequate housing solutions.

The historic Rumi Darwaza and other iconic sites in Lucknow are losing their charm due to unchecked parking and poor maintenance. Tour buses and cars regularly clog the area around the Rumi Darwaza, obstructing its view, while unregulated vendors crowd the surrounding spaces.

Similar issues plague the Hussainabad heritage stretch, including the Clock Tower, Picture Gallery, Nimbu Park and Teele Wali Masjid, where improper sanitation practices, such as public urination, further tarnish these historic landmarks.

Lucknow’s Gomti River is struggling with severe pollution. The unchecked discharge of untreated or poorly treated wastewater from city-based STPs has turned the river into a repository of contaminants. Adding to the crisis, citizens routinely dump worship materials and trash along its banks, with piles often visible near Nishatganj and Daliganj bridges.

Garbage accumulation and the unchecked growth of water hyacinth have become regular sights at prominent ghats such as Rastogi Ghat, Hanuman Setu Ghat, and Kudia Ghat.

As winter sets in, Lucknow faces a worsening air quality crisis, with visibility plunging due to the accumulation of pollutants. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently been falling into the 'Very Poor' to 'Severe' categories, often crossing the 300 mark daily. The primary contributors are vehicular emissions and industrial pollution from factories situated on the city’s outskirts.

Without urgent measures, the city’s residents remain vulnerable to severe health risks associated with prolonged exposure to polluted air. To combat this hazardous situation, the LMC must enforce stricter regulations on industrial emissions and initiate regular water sprinkling drives to mitigate smog.

Baba Hazara Bagh near Chaupatiyaan, once a significant monument, now stands as a symbol of neglect by authorities. The monument's entrance is cluttered with piles of garbage, while inside, animal waste, graffiti and vandalism have become common sights.

This lack of maintenance is not confined to lesser-known sites but extends to Lucknow's more popular landmarks, such as Bara Imambara and the Residency. These iconic monuments also suffer from persistent littering and scribbling, tarnishing their historical value.

Last year, the Marine Drive area in Gomti Nagar became the center of controversy during the rains, when waterlogging and chaos caused by miscreants went viral. However, the real issue: the city’s faulty drainage system, was overshadowed by the incident. When a prominent stretch like Marine Drive faces such drainage problems, it highlights that smaller localities and narrow streets in Lucknow are likely to suffer even more from severe waterlogging.

The city’s overall drainage infrastructure remains inadequate, with stagnant water often sitting in open drains that are left uncovered, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes during the rainy season.

Despite multiple attempts to curb plastic usage, there has been no noticeable decrease in the use of polythene bags across Lucknow. From vegetable vendors to grocery stores, these bags continue to be widely used by all, contributing to the city’s growing waste problem. In addition to this, citizens often dispose of single-use plastic bottles irresponsibly, further harming the environment.

Though plastic bans have been imposed in the past, their enforcement has been lax, with plastic wholesalers resuming sales once the initial crackdown fades. To tackle this issue effectively, a stricter regulation should be passed that mandates the use of environmentally friendly alternatives, with regular checks to ensure compliance.

Furthermore, citizens must be educated on the importance of reducing plastic usage and the need to segregate waste. Emphasizing the use of two dustbins for wet and dry waste across the city will be crucial in managing plastic waste more efficiently.

Indore's remarkable cleanliness model, which helped the city secure top rankings, serves as a prime example. There, residents took the initiative to maintain hygiene around their homes and businesses, segregated waste at the household level, avoided throwing trash openly, and reduced the use of single-use plastics.

Although government action is crucial, many of Lucknow's challenges could also be mitigated if its citizens embraced better civic sense and took responsibility for their surroundings.