The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) cleaned up the Durgam Cheruvu Lake. The lake was filled with garbage and filled with hyacinth (wild plant) that smothered the lake killing the underwater life.
In a joint effort, the GHMC along with the K Raheja Corp and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board cleaned the lake. GHMC Assistant Executive Engineer Ch. Nagaraju said the project that began in 2016 was finally complete. Over 100 acres of hyacinth was removed to give way for a sparkling and thriving lake.
Hydraulic excavators were used to clean the lake mechanically. The authorities needed to repeat the process again and again to avoid regrowth.
The main reason for the hyacinth growing was the flow of sewage into the lake. The sewage was diverted to the Malkam Cheruvu and Ibrahimbagh Cheruvu and then finally into the Musi river.
The GHMC is still working on 25% of the lake which is still affected by the growth of hyacinth. The civic body has suggested using biochemical methods to control the regrowth.
