Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin on Friday reviewed the ongoing water hyacinth removal operations at Ambazari Lake and directed officials to accelerate the work by deploying additional excavator machines on both sides of the lake.
During the inspection, the Commissioner emphasized the need for the immediate eradication of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant considered harmful to the environment and water ecosystem. He instructed officials to increase the pace of the cleanup drive and ensure that the remaining weed cover is removed at the earliest.
According to officials, nearly 80,000 tonnes of water hyacinth have already been removed from Ambazari Lake as part of the ongoing environmental restoration initiative.
Additional Machinery to Speed Up Cleanup Efforts
To expedite the operation, Dr. Vipin directed the use of additional Poklen (excavator) machines along with existing equipment. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is currently removing around 400 tonnes of water hyacinth every day with the help of excavators and specialized weed-harvesting machines.
The Commissioner reviewed the progress of the campaign and sought detailed updates from officials regarding the removal efforts. He instructed the concerned departments to focus on areas where water hyacinth growth remains dense and use both excavators and weed harvesters to significantly reduce its spread.
Major Environmental Restoration Initiative
The water hyacinth removal campaign has been launched by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation following directives from Mayor Nita Thakre, Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare, and Leader of the Ruling Party Narendra (Balya) Borkar.
The initiative aims to restore the ecological health of Ambazari Lake by eliminating the invasive weed, which affects water quality, aquatic biodiversity, and the overall environmental balance of the lake.
Senior Officials Present During Inspection
The inspection was attended by Additional Commissioner Ankit, Superintending Engineer Dr. Shweta Banerjee, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Bhagat, Executive Engineer Ujjwal Lanjewar, Chief Sanitation Officer Dr. Gajendra Mahalle, and Zonal Sanitation Officer Lokesh Basanwar.
Officials stated that regular monitoring of the cleanup operation is being carried out to ensure timely completion and long-term environmental benefits for one of Nagpur's most prominent water bodies.
