Corporation clears water hyacinth from Adyar river ahead of monsoon

The Corporation’s amphibian vehicle is now stationed at the Adyar river, near the Saidapet bridge, removing the carpet of water hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes) from the surface of the waterbody, which is already groaning under the weight of indiscriminate garbage dumping and sewage inflow. The alien invasive plant, an indicator of sewage inflow, is slowly killing the river by blocking the sunlight from penetrating into the waterbodies, causing eutrophication. 

The Corporation had procured amphibian vehicles, to deal with the menace of water hyacinth, which is often removed in the months preceding the monsoon season, according to a senior Corporation official, to ensure the free flow of rainwater into the sea. “The water hyacinth being removed from the Adyar river at the Saidapet Bridge is also largely being done as a measure to control the mosquito menace,” said the official. 

The polluted state of the Adyar river has meant that the neighbourhoods flanking the waterbody had to deal with severe mosquito menace. Residents hope that the Corporation will provide a lasting solution – by cleaning up the river. C Ramakrishnan, Vice President, Federation of Adyar Residents Associations (FEDARA), said that such ad-hoc exercises are a mere eye-wash. “There is no concrete plan in place to clean the river. First, they must desilt it and remove the plastic waste that has been dumped over the years. They haven’t done either and they go about just removing the hyacinth mechanically. If they are serious about the river’s maintenance, they will go for a clear step-by-step procedure along with a timeframe for completing it. The Corporation has been telling us about their intent to clean the river, but nothing is translating into action,” he added.