The NCS recently undertook a study on “Impact of Water Hyacinth on River Tapi.” The aim of the study was to find environmental challenges posed by water hyacinth on Tapi River, investigate the reason for continues growth and suggest measures for the utilising the wild vegetation in a different manner.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plants and is known to cause significant ecological and socio-economic effects. Though it is native to South America, but now a days it has become an environmental and social challenge throughout India.
NSC study pointed out that water hyacinth adversely affects the environment and humans in diverse ways. Tapi river in Surat is also facing the same issue. The water hyacinth is posing threat to riparian biodiversity, irrigation canals by clogging, water transport, fishing, etc.
The main problem identified is this study is more than 30 million liters per day (MLD) sewage thrown in Tapi River from more than twenty outlets and the release of fly ash from Ukai Thermal power station which act as nutrition to water hyacinth.
Removal of water hyacinth is just a temporary solution. Another main reason is stagnant water of Tapi River. Weir-cum causeway has blocked the flow of Tapi, and study has proved that water hyacinth breed and disperse more quickly in stagnant water.
This study also highlights various ways to prevent the spread of, or eradication of water hyacinth which includes physical control, biological control, and chemical control.
Volunteer of NSC, Ashish Vakil said, “Countries like Thailand, Indonesia, China, Africa, & United states are also facing same issue but they have started utilizing water hyacinth in different ways such as making charcoal briquettes, Baskets, biogas, fertilizers, etc. Even in India there are several companies that initiated to utilize water hyacinth for making handicraft and became successful”.
“Making paper, handicraft, and charcoal briquettes can be implemented in Surat as they are tested ways to utilize water hyacinth. SMC should make a proper committee to work on control and utilization of water hyacinth. All stake holders should come to a common platform figure out a proper solution to this serious issue. A proper utilization if water hyacinth can give employment to dozens of lives. “
The NCS suggested the SMC to stop sewage outlets merging in the river, review restricting natural flow of river by making check dams, stopping religious practice of throwing flowers and immersing spiritual mater and banning the immersion of idols in the river.
by Melvyn Thomas via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India
0 comments:
Post a Comment