Nemom Panchayat Plans Tech Collaboration to Clear Water Hyacinth in Vellayani Lake

Speedy Summary

• The Nemom block panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, is planning a collaboration with CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) to address the issue of invasive water hyacinths in Vellayani freshwater lake.
• The initiative aims to extract fibres from the invasive weed for creating value-added products and providing livelihood opportunities to economically weaker sections locally.
• A Block Innovation Cluster meeting earlier this week identified this opportunity,with technology support offered by CSIR-NIIST.
• Fibre extraction will use a pollution-free method called ‘closed retting,’ which also produces biogas and creates usable soil conditioner as by-products.
• Establishing a cottage industry based on water hyacinth fibre is expected to generate employment, particularly for women in the region.
• Water hyacinths have long been a major ecological challenge in vellayani lake despite previous panchayat-level intervention efforts aimed at remediation.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The proposed project attempts an innovative solution that simultaneously addresses an ecological problem while fostering economic progress among marginalized groups. By leveraging scientific expertise from CSIR-NIIST through technologies like ‘closed retting,’ the initiative could provide insights into sustainable waste management practices with broader applications beyond KeralaS Vellayani lake. However, effective implementation will depend on adequate funding, coordination between stakeholders, and addressing logistical challenges associated with setting up new industries locally. Accomplished execution could serve as a blueprint for managing similar issues across other polluted water bodies in India while uplifting local communities economically.

Read more: August 16, 2025 06:13 pm IST