WATER
HYACINTH: ENVIRONMENT
NEWS: District Panchayat constitutes technical committee to address
water hyacinth issue in Kottayam
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Water Hyacinth
Overview
- Scientific
Name:
Eichhornia crassipes
- Native
Region:
Brazil
- Spread: Now found in various parts
of the world, including India
Characteristics
- Growth: Fast-growing aquatic plant,
propagates through seed and vegetative reproduction.
Concerns
- Dense
Mats:
Forms dense mats that cover water surfaces.
- Environmental
Impact:
- Blocks sunlight
- Reduces oxygen levels in water
- Makes water unfit for commercial use
- Commercial
Impact:
- Unsuitable for fishery, transportation, and
recreation.
- Nickname: Known as the “terror of
Bengal” due to its invasive growth.
Recent
Action
- Kottayam
District Panchayat (Kerala): Constituted a technical committee to address
the water hyacinth menace.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/district-panchayat-constitutes-technical-committee-to-address-water-hyacinth-issue-in-kottayam/article68359642.ece