Nagpur, India: The Eichhornia weed, which has already covered large parts of Ambazari Lake, is now spreading into the Naag River. This has become a new problem for the city authorities, especially in areas like Hiwari Nagar, Shankar Nagar, Yashwant Stadium, and Ghat Road.  

For months, residents have been watching the weed grow in the river, but they don’t know why it is spreading so fast. Environmentalist Kaustav Chatterjee, founder of Green Vigil Foundation, said that Eichhornia, also known as water hyacinth, grows in polluted water. It might have come from Ambazari Lake or started growing on its own in the Naag River. This weed can harm the environment by blocking sunlight, reducing oxygen levels, and making it difficult for fish and other aquatic life to survive.  

Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari said that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. They are seeking help from experts at AIIMS, MAFSU, and NEERI to find a way to control the weed.  

Experts warn that if Eichhornia keeps spreading, it could harm fisheries, block fishing nets, and make it harder for boats to move through the water. Chatterjee suggested that people should be educated on how to prevent the weed from spreading by properly disposing of aquatic plants and cleaning boats before using them in different water bodies.  

On a positive note, NMC is looking at ways to turn the weed into something useful. Dr Chaudhari said that research from other countries shows that Eichhornia can be used to make ropes. If successful, this could help manage the weed while also creating a new business opportunity.  

In addition, NMC is planning to open a stitching training centre at the Multi-Disciplinary Skill Development Centre in Punapur. This centre, developed under the Smart City project, will provide training to women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and offer a space to sell their handmade products.  

As the Eichhornia problem grows, people are waiting to see if the NMC can find a way to control it and turn it into something useful.