COIMBATORE: Volunteers on Saturday launched a pilot initiative at Sulur Periyakulam (big tank) to convert water hyacinth into organic manure on site, aiming at tackling the invasive weed while cutting removal costs for local bodies.The initiative is being led by C Prasanth, director of Recompose-Recycling Pvt Ltd, along with colleague Saranraj, in coordination with Noyyal Aaru and WWF Trust. Sulur MLA N M Sivakumar was present at the launch.According to Prasanth, water hyacinth chokes water bodies, affects water quality and reduces oxygen levels. He said recycling the weed into manure could benefit agriculture as mulch, reducing water evaporation by 30% to 40%, particularly for coconut cultivation that dominates parts of Coimbatore and Tirupur and requires high water use.Corporations and municipalities spend heavily on removing hyacinth, including labour, truck transport and fuel expenses. Disposal is also a challenge, with weeds often dumped on roadsides without processing.Under the pilot, a mobile motorised shredder powered by petrol is used to crush the weed at the waterbody itself. The shredded material is treated with effective microorganisms and converted into organic manure for distribution to farmers.Around 200kg of water hyacinth was shredded at Sulur Periyakulam on the first day. The machine has the capacity to process about five tonnes of hyacinth a day, reducing transportation and labour costs.They said the initiative would be extended to other lakes in the Sulur region and to stretches of the Noyyal river.
