Rain & polls near, Ambazari hyacinth removal gets push
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Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has resumed a massive drive to remove water hyacinth which has swamped nearly one-thirds of the Ambazar lake as part of its flood-prevention measure and have deployed poclain machines and other equipment.
With the civic elections scheduled to be held later this year, flooding could become a major poll issue, especially when memories of the September 23, 2023, floods are still fresh. In case there is a repeat of 9/23 disaster and city areas get inundated, it will hand down a potential ammunition to those aspiring to contest the impending NMC polls to go ballistic against the civic administration and the BJP-ruled state govt.
The citizens affected by the 9/23 flood are already unhappy with the slow pace of works like construction of retaining wall along the Nag River. While the officials say the renewed efforts to remove the hyacinth are part of its pre-monsoon preparedness, there could be a political push too to get the drive completed before peak monsoon, said sources.
Officials say the thick growth of hyacinth at the overflow point hindered the smooth discharge of water into downstream drains and the Nag River, leading to backflow and urban flooding, especially during the last monsoon.
While the NMC has been periodically removing the weed, experts say the root cause needs long-term scientific intervention. The civic body also sought assistance from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) to study and control the hyacinth problem.
According to officials, water hyacinth — commonly mistaken for water lilies — covered nearly one-third of Ambazari Lake just a few days ago. However, with intensified efforts, tonnes of the invasive aquatic plant are now being extracted daily. The floating mats of hyacinth became a major concern, especially after recent rains, when they were seen drifting into the Nag River and clogging the flow of stormwater.
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