MAPUSA: A group of residents of Moira led by Deputy Sarpanch Oswald Cordeiro have taken up initiative of removing the hyacinths manually from the river providing some relief to the local fishermen who were facing hardship while fishing due to the growing of hyacinth weed in the Moira river.
The locals have completed clearing around two kilometres of the river surface and intend to clear the river till the Mapusa Tar bridge.
Fishermen from Moira had raised concern over the rising Hyacinths that float on the surface making it difficult for fishermen to carry out fishing activity along with damage of nets and free access to the river. They had also approached Cordeiro, highlighting the issue.
According to the Moira residents, water hyacinth has increased on the Mapusa river since the last few months, especially towards the Moira village side, as a result, a large area of the water surface is covered with the weed plant, which not only blocks the sunrays from reaching the water body but also adds to the problems of the local fishermen.
“This issue was highlighted in month of January. We then decided to clear the river manually with the help of locals. The second round of cleaning was taken up after a break. We now intend to clear around five kilometres of the river”, Cordeiro said.
Cordeiro said that they have even requested the Mapusa municipality and the Bastora panchayat to undertake similar drives to clean the river towards the Mapusa Tar bridge where the weed growth is thick.
Local fishermen Sheldon Lobo said the complete removal of the weed plants from the river will provide them relief.
