200 Tipper Trips Remove Water Hyacinth From Ambazari Lake, NMC Says Drive May Continue for Years

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) intensified its Ambazari Lake cleaning drive on Saturday, removing around 200 tipper loads of water hyacinth that were subsequently dumped in a large pit along the lake's bank near Hingna Road.NMC public health engineering department superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee said the water hyacinth infestation is unlikely to be eliminated quickly, with eradication efforts expected to continue for another two to three years. "The spread of water hyacinth began around 2021 and gradually engulfed large sections of the lake," she said, attributing its proliferation mainly to the inflow of untreated sewage.A senior NMC official said the civic body attempted chemical treatment last year, but the results were unsatisfactory. Authorities have now shifted to continuous mechanical removal, which experts consider the most practical and effective approach. Scientific studies have also recommended sustained extraction of the weed to curb its growth.Former Nagpur guardian minister Satish Chaturvedi urged the administration to develop a long-term solution before the situation worsens. He cautioned against allowing Ambazari Lake to deteriorate into a condition similar to the heavily polluted Nag River, where expensive restoration efforts are already underway.