Weeding out the problem: Innovative methods help volunteers clean Bengaluru lakes

Bengaluru lakes are fast disappearing. Most lakes are now classified as ‘dead lakes’ or lakes that cannot sustain aquatic life. However, residents have not given up on saving the water bodies. A simple mechanism called ‘trash boom’ is now being used to bring the aquatic life back to Avalahalli Lake in JP Nagar.

The lake is riddled with weed, water hyacinths and algae on the surface which is destroying its ecosystem. The lake was a favourite spot for migratory birds in South Bengaluru.

Talking to Bangalore Mirror, Krishna Prasad HS, a volunteer, said, “Aquatic weeds and water hyacinth have covered 3/4th of the lake surface. This causes oxygen depletion and makes it difficult for marine life like fishes to breathe. Generally, weed cleaning was done using bamboo sticks where lake cleaners would hold bamboo and go into the lake. This, however, caused serious skin infections and made it a difficult task.”

Anand, a member of the Avalahalli Lake development authority, said, “Trash booms are floating barriers that help cordon off the large amounts of weed that is too heavy to be lifted by humans, and it requires minimal labour. It works in conjunction with one earth moving machine.”

Anand said that they had collected 4,000tons of weeds and in this month they have already removed four tonnes of weed.
Saloni Dani, a volunteer, said that trash booms are designed and manufactured in India and are very popular. It has been used during the River Ganga Revival and is also used in Kolkata. In Bengaluru, this system is being used to revive three lakes.

The residents demonstrated the usefulness of trash booms to BBMP officials.
 

• Bengaluru lakes
• Trash boom
• Weed