APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

PLACE: CHENNAI TEFCHNOLOGY: COMPOST FROM WATER HYACINTH PLANT

CHENNAI:

INTRODUCTION

Chennai is the capital city of the Indian state of tamilnadu. Chennai being the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the fifth most populous city in India, it is also the world's 36th largest metropolitan area

AREA OF CONCENTRATION: CHETPET LAKE

Chetpet is a locality in Chennai which has a picturesque pond between the Chetpet railway station and the Poonamallee High Road, one of the last surviving natural water bodies in the city. This beautiful lake is presently under a great threat called water hyacinths.

WATER HYACINTHS

The following article from THE

HINDU highlights the problem

Hyacinth robbing Chetpet lake of life K.Lakshmi

Thursday, Aug 30, 2010

Ghost of lake: The Chetpet lake which is in dire need of attention.

CHENNAI: Chetpet lake, one of the important water bodies in the city, is crying for attention with overgrown water hyacinth almost covering the entire water spread area. Residents in the neighbouring localities, such as Kilpauk, Egmore and Chetpet, note that though the water was not used for drinking purposes, it served to be a key source of groundwater recharge for the surrounding areas.

S. Sumathi, a resident of Kilpauk, said the lake was choked with water hyacinth and left neglected for over a year now. Moreover, it has been heavily encroached upon, particularly near the Chetpet railway station. Also people scaled the compound wall of Kilpauk Medical College Hospital to fish in the water, she said. Anglers club Residents of Chetpet recalled that an anglers club used to function till 1940s in the Chetpet Lake whose members visited the small island in the midst of the waterbody for fishing. R. Madhavan, secretary of Nowroji Street Civic Exnora, said the water body often remained bone dry. The dry lake bed was even used for film shooting. We took the initiative to connect the stormwater drain network in our area to the lake five years ago. The water level in the lake has not gone down after harnessing rainwater, he said. Aquarium He demanded that the anglers club be revived and an aquarium established in the area belonging to the Fisheries Department. A small park and a walkers path could also be developed around the waterbody, Mr.Madhavan said. Officials of Fisheries Department said that of the total area of 15 acres belonging to the department, the waterbody is spread across nearly nine acres. The State government had sanctioned Rs.40 lakh to clean the overgrown water hyacinth and desilt the lake in 2007-08. But, we are waiting for the water level to decrease to carry out the work, an official said.

Fish culture is not done now as the lake was not a fresh water source anymore. However, as the water quality is not saline, the lake has a few varieties of fishes such as rohu, catla and mrigal. Breeding is monitored to assess the water quality. Moreover, it was the only such research facility in the city and the fresh water aquaculture lab there tested the water and soil samples for fish culture. About 50 farmers from the neighboring districts got samples tested for a nominal rate every month. The fish species that prey on mosquito larvae are supplied from the fisheries office to civic bodies, including Chennai Corporation and also to residents to eradicate mosquitoes. Admitting that waste and sewage were being dumped from KMC hospital and slum areas close to the railway station, the official said it was only minimal and action is being initiated against offenders. Officials also said that a concept paper for beautification of lakes provided by Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) was pending with the government. TNUIFSL officials said that the concept paper suggested creation of an eco-park and also revival of the anglers club besides construction of buildings to generate revenue.

CHETPET LAKE
BEFORE

NOW

NOW

THE PROBLEM
Water hyacinth can cause a variety of problems when its rapid mat-like proliferation covers areas of fresh water. Some of the common problems are listed below:
Hindrance to water transport. Clogging of intakes of irrigation, hydropower and water supply systems. Micro-habitat for a variety of disease vectors. Increased evapo-transpiration. Problems related to fishing. Reduction of biodiversity.

POSSIBLE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF WATER HYACINTH

Though water hyacinths are quite problematic they can also be used for many practical applications such as making :

Paper Fiber board Yarn and rope Basket work. Charcoal briquetting Biogas production Water purification Animal fodder Fertilizers Fish feed

In Chennai the best use of water hyacinth can be made by using it as a compost or fertilizer
This way , not only is the problem solved but also they become useful for the community.

WATER HYACINTH PRODUCTS

WATER HYACINTH COMPOST/FERTILIZER

WHY ????
Low cost Easy to produce Resources available are abundant

HOW WILL IT BE SUITABLE FOR CHENNAI?????

The corporation of Chennai maintains about 230 parks in the city. Different variety of plants and trees are grown there. Chennai has poor soil wealth. The maintenance of the plants especially the fertilizing requirements are quite costly Instead of using artificial and expensive fertilizers water hyacinth fertilizer can be used. They have high mineral content. Hence the plants grow quite well It would reduce the cost and make Chennai greener They can be used not only in parks but also in small gardens to grow plants which require lot of manure

PARKS

How to use water hyacinth as a fertilizer??

Water hyacinth can be used on the land either as a green manure or as compost. As a green manure it can be either ploughed into the ground or used as a mulch. The plant is ideal for composting, an elegant solution to the problem of water hyacinth and poor soil quality. Water hyacinths can be produced in 3 simple steps

1.After removing the plant from the water, leave it to dry for a few days

2. Mix the dried plant with ash, soil and some animal manure. Microbial decomposition breaks down the fats, lipids, proteins, sugars and starches

3. Leave the mixture in piles to compost, producing a rich safe compost which can be applieddirectly to the soil. Compost increases soil fertility and crop yield.

BENEFITS:
Creates employment opportunities for the locals Solves the problem and also becomes useful to the people It is a local resource available in plenty . It can be used by the local community.

COST:
As mentioned earlier the production cost is much. Most of the cost can be contributed to the labour and the materials needed for making it which is not very high.

THANK YOU

PROJECT DONE BY:

FHELICIA SELAS. S VIDHYA. A SHRUTI. V

LOGESWARI. D.K
ABINAYAA. D.R

KHAVIYAA JANAKIRAMAN