Hyacinth invades Badkhal lake, cleaning to cost several lakhs

The process of refilling Badkhal lake with water from sewage treatment plant (STP) is almost complete under the Rs 79 crore revival project, but the water body has got infested with hyacinth (wild weed). This has forced the authorities concerned to plan a cleansing drive.

Costing several lakhs, the cleaning work is proposed to be allotted under the CSR initiative soon, it is revealed.

The Faridabad Smart City Limited (FSCL), which has been carrying out the lake project under the Smart City drive, will allot the work for cleaning the weeds and the authorities propose to complete it by March-end, reveal sources in the administration.

Though some of the government departments and agencies have exhibited interest in taking up the cleaning work, the final allotment is expected to be done before the completion of the ongoing structural development work, it is claimed.

Hyacinth had started growing as soon as the water started flowing into the lake from the STP about two years ago. While a tender of Rs 3 crore for the work of phytoremediation for removal of the weeds had been floated last year, the process was withdrawn due to overpricing, claim sources in the FSCL. Phytoremediation is a technology which uses living plants to clean up soil, air and water contaminated with hazardous contaminants.

Sunil Harsana, an environmentalist, said that as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the most invasive aquatic plant species, it could multiply rapidly on the water surface and cover large areas within a short time. He said the weed might be harmful to aquatic life and could obstruct boating, which is likely to be the main feature of this tourist spot. The dense growth could also provide an ideal breeding site for mosquitoes and other insects, it is added.

The revival work of the lake, spread over 42 acres, was launched in 2019, according to officials who claim that refilling work has been completed with the help of the STP. The development of facilities related to structures like Marina bay and Bundh (embankment) to make it tourist-friendly spot has also been moving towards completion as over 80 per cent of the work has been accomplished. The Marina and Bundh structure would have two levels of decks for leisure, sightseeing and food courts. The 600m-long bay will also provide a boating facility, it is revealed.

Sanjay Joon, Divisional Commissioner and CEO FSCL, said the lake revival project would be completed by March 31 and the work of removal of the weeds from the lake is likely to be handed over to some competent authority or department soon.