Thu Aug 14 18:38:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

**NEWS ARTICLE**

**Water Hyacinth Chokes Indian Waterways, Threatening Livelihoods and Ecosystems**

**New Delhi, August 15, 2025** – A silent ecological crisis is unfolding across India as the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) continues to spread, suffocating rivers, lakes, and backwaters and disrupting the lives of millions. The plant, introduced during colonial rule, now infests over 200,000 hectares of inland waters, particularly impacting communities in states like Kerala, often called the “rice bowl of Kerala,” and Assam.

The rapid growth of the water hyacinth blocks irrigation channels, impedes water flow, damages fishing nets, and creates a barrier to waterways. Farmers are struggling to maintain their crops, and fishermen find their traditional trade severely hampered. Beyond economic hardship, the dense mats of hyacinth block sunlight and deplete oxygen, devastating aquatic biodiversity and threatening species already struggling with pollution and over-extraction. Even ecotourism in regions like Vembanad Lake, is facing a threat.

Adding to the concern, as the water hyacinth decays, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, exacerbating climate change.

Despite the challenges, innovative solutions are emerging. Women’s self-help groups in Odisha are crafting handicrafts from the plant, while in Assam and West Bengal, it is being used for paper and biogas production. However, these efforts remain limited in scope.

Experts are calling for a coordinated national policy, streamlined under a single accountable body, to address the crisis. This includes a mix of scientific removal methods, private sector partnerships for value addition, research into new uses for the hyacinth (like crafts, biofuels, compost textiles), and financial incentives for innovators.

Jain University in Kochi has taken a proactive step, launching an awareness campaign and discussion paper, aiming to reimagine the water hyacinth as a resource rather than just a pest. They will bring together diverse stakeholders to formulate solutions.

“India’s rivers and lakes are too precious to be stifled by neglect,” stated Venu Rajamony, Chairman of Future Kerala Mission, Jain University, Kochi. “This is not just an ecological problem but a crucible for rural livelihoods, food security, climate resilience and a green economy.”

The call for action is clear: a united effort from communities, government departments, entrepreneurs, and citizens is needed to drain the swamp—not just of water hyacinth, but of the inertia that allows it to flourish.

**END ARTICLE**

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