Panvel civic body ties up with Indian Council of Agricultural Research to get rid of Salvinia molesta growth in Vadale lake

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) tied up with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to tackle the massive growth of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) weeds in the historic Vadale Lake in Panvel city. The bioremediation process was initiated again after it failed with a research laboratory based in Mumbai.The campaign was launched on Thursday (May 7) to eradicate the invasive aquatic plant from the lake. PCMC Mayor Nitin Patil said, "Under the ‘biological control' campaign ‘salvinia weevil', a weevil species will destroy the aquatic plants in the Vadale lake, the jewel and historical heritage of Panvel city."The mayor released the biological insects ‘Salvinia weevil' (Cyrtobargous salviniae) in the lake in the presence of ICAR researchers Dr Archana Anokhe and Diksha AG and civic body officials.The weed growth resulted in a reduction in biological oxygen level in the lake water, affecting the growth of fishes, aquatic plants and animals, among others. Mosquito breeding increased in the lake, threatening public health. Repeated attempts to clean the lake failed.PCMC adopted an environment friendly and sustainable biological control method. The ‘Salvinia weevil' fed only on the leaves and branches of the weeds, stunting their growth naturally, after which the weeds died over time and sank to the bottom of the pond. The process did not cause any harm to the water, fish or other aquatic animals.PCMC aimed to clear the lake of weeds in 15-18 months, with initial results likely in the next 6 to 8 months. The PCMC-initiated talav beautification did not see any light of the day following the massive regrowth of the weeds.The technology was successfully used to eradicate water weeds over about 4,000 hectares in Sarani, Madhya Pradesh. Giduraha and Murwari lakes in Jabalpur were also successfully cleared of water weeds using this method.
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