To compost weeds, Palike, BDA to tie up with Horticulture dept

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority have decided to tie up with the Horticulture department to dispose of the weeds extracted from Bellandur lake.

The huge quantity of weeds can be converted into manure and supplied to farms around Bengaluru. Some farms have already agreed to use it. A farm in Hoskote has reportedly agreed to use its facility to convert water hyacinth into manure.

The BBMP estimates that every day at least 100 tonnes of water hyacinth can be cleared from the lake and after storing it for a day, it will be sent to Hoskote.

“Once the water hyacinth is removed from the water, its weight starts reducing drastically. Within a few days, its weight will reduce by at least 70% to 80%, making it easy disposing,” said Sarfaraz Khan, BBMP’s joint commissioner (solid waste management).

According to sources in BDA, the agency has provided two places near Sun City, off Sarjapur Road, to dump weeds there, till it dries up and the weight is reduced. There are also a few lands belonging to the BDA near Bellandur lake, which will be used to stock weeds temporarily.