BMC invites bids for clearing hyacinths from Powai Lake

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated a Rs 16.45 crore tender to remove hyacinths from Powai Lake in Mumbai. Powai Lake is an artificial lake in Mumbai, in the Powai valley. Water hyacinth plants grow in water bodies that have a high occupancy of sewage waste. It covers the surface of the waterbody and makes it hard for sun rays to reach marine life. Hyacinths drain oxygen from water bodies and result in the deaths of fishes and other aquatic animals. Currently water hyacinths cover about 25% of the lake, and it has to come down to 10%. Other floating vegetation, materials, and garbage would be cleared up with the hyacinths using an amphibious machine or harvester and disposed of at a site told by BMC. Ajay Rathod, BMC Chief Engineer, Hydraulics Department, told the media that they issued the tender and the cleaning process has to be done within six months. The previous tender was assigned four years back by them. Pramod Salaskar, who has been studying the Powai lake, said the BMC is taking measures to stop the untreated water from draining into the lake. However, people should also stop doing dashkriya vidhi (10th-day rituals for the dead) at the lake. Image Source Also read: Marathwada water grid: Maharashtra govt approves project in phases