Lake authorities concerned over reccurence of the Water Hyacinth

The sanctuary is surrounded by five villages 8211; Kanwash, Nawada, Sajadpur, Chadwana and Radhuwas. The main source of water in the area is the Jawahar Lal Nehru canal JLN and it also has a lift system whereby the excess water is siphoned off into drain number eight.

The lake area was the village revenue land used for crop cultivation before it came under the control of the Irrigation department and later the Forest department.

Eucalyptus, Acacia and some other species like Azadirachta Indica, Zizyphus have been grown in the area around the lake to provide nesting facilities to the winged guests.

At present, however, the bird sanctuary is facing grave danger from the Water Hyacinth which impairs the quality of water making it unfit for human consumption, fosters water-borne diseases, increases entrophication, silting and gradual drying up of water bodies, informed Chief Wildlife Warden Haryana R.D. Jakati and added that the worst of its effects is that it provides a suitable habitat for the breeding of mosquitoes by preventing the access of predators and causes enormous water loss due to evapo-transp iration through its luxuriant growth.

Its seeds sink to the bottom where they can remain viable for as long as twenty years and under ideal conditions, Water Hyacinth plants can double their number in ten days, he further informed. Jakati said it was not possible to remove these growths by mechanical means and the process of removal was, in fact, a very costly exercise. Last year, nearly 400 acres were cleared of Water Hyacinth, but it resurfaced in the same area.

He also ruled out the possibility of using chemical sprays as that would affect the ecology and habitation of the area.

8220;In view of the seriousness of the problem and ineffectiveness of other methods, natural enemies can help solve the problem,8221;he said. S.P. Singh of the Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore is of the considered opinion that it can be controlled with the help of insects like the Weevils and Mites. The process is called the bio-control of Water Hyacinth. Weevels grow in the roots of the Hyacinth, while the mites eat the leaves of the plant. He has assured to start work by the end of February or begining of March when the insects are more active.

More than 197 species of birds, migratory as well as local, visit this lake from November to March, said DC Arun Kumar.

The birds that can be spotted include the Painted Stork, Spoon Bill, Mallard Flaming Duck, Spot Bill, Pochard and Common Crane.

In the first phase, 36,000 Weevels and 75,000 Mites will be released. The impact of bio-control agents may not be clearly visible for a year after the release of these insects. Jakati has expressed the fear of an ecological succession whereby, the niche vacated by the Water Hyacinth may be occupied by another alien weed.