With unrestrained hyacinth growth, the water bodies around Hyderabad are all ready to get rid of their usual look. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has taken up a project to clear water hyacinth for Rs 31 crore, across 39 lakes as part of its focused efforts to reduce mosquito threats and curb seasonal diseases.

In the Banjara Lake, Kothaceheruvu (pedarayuni cheruvu), HMT tanks and other firms, private agencies have been roped, and works are already being taken up. Unlike before, the municipal corporation entrusts the responsibility of clearing the hyacinth of water from the lakes and transportation for three years to the Jawaharnagar dump yard.

Of the 39 lakes, tenders for 34 lakes were completed while tenders for the remaining four were recalled. These works are covered in nine packages and are commissioned for three years to private agencies. The goal is to address the threat of mosquitoes and also to reduce the propagation of seasonal diseases through mosquitos.

Hyacinth Clearing works at Kaidamma Kunta

The municipal corporation is now working on spraying drones on the disinfectants in the water bodies. Compared to last year, 11 drones are being used this year by the municipal corporation to spray disinfectants in the lakes extensively. The Greater Hyderabad includes 184 lakes, most of which are covered by water hyacinth and almost 495 acres in the 39 lakes are recognised by the municipal government.

Apart from this, it was yet another obstacle to eliminate hyacinth from the lakes. For this reason, the municipal corporation is discussing waste converting into compost with the city-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT). Also, the proposals are being addressed to instal air filters to ensure safe and clean water in the lakes.

GHMC to Obtain Floating Trash Collectors

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has implemented Floating Trash Collectors (FTCs) in various lakes, and the GHMC is planning to acquire more of it in different water bodies within its jurisdiction to remove floating materials.

The FTC's are operated in two shifts a day and are transported in the lake in a short time to collect waste and fluid along with water hyacinth, weeds etc. They help to prevent human deployment from cleaning the trash. The GHMC aims to purchase six FTCs with two capacities, three with a capacity of 4,800 kg and three with a capacity 3,000 kg at a total cost of approximately Rs 11 crore.

By: Shailaja K