Vadodara: Waterbodies in Gujarat are not just struggling for survival because of encroachments. Thick layers of water hyacinth are also choking the rivers, lakes, and ponds, shading out aquatic life and affecting their fish population. The water hyacinth infestation had recently disrupted the operations of a popular floating restaurant in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati river.
But now, the challenge of bringing this dangerous vegetation under control is being converted into an opportunity. A Vadodara-based foundation has successfully conducted experiments to convert water hyacinth into compost and even develop stationery materials like papers and diaries, turning the shrub into an alternative to wood. “Water hyacinth grows at a very fast rate on the surface of water bodies.
It is considered dangerous vegetation as it inhibits the growth of fish and other aquatic organisms. Its thick layer cuts down the light and depletes oxygen levels in water bodies,” said environmentalist Dr Suneet Dabke. “But there are many positive advantages of water hyacinth if it is controlled.
This plant has the potential to purify sewage or treat untreated wastewater. It has super absorption power and can even absorb heavy metals,” he said. Kachre Se Azadi Foundation, founded by Dabke as a non-profit organization, has successfully experimented with composting water hyacinth.
“We took a tractor loaded with water hyacinth from Sama lake and transferred it to our Dumad site for composting,” he said,.