Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) & Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), often termed the "Killer Weed," is one of the most invasive aquatic plants globally and has become a significant environmental and economic burden in India. Originating from South America, this plant has spread across various continents, with India facing a particularly acute challenge in managing its proliferation.

Maharashtra is grappling with a significant environmental challenge posed by the proliferation of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant species. This issue is particularly acute in regions like Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Nanded, Nasik, Solapur to name a few. Water hyacinth infestations have led to ecological imbalances, hindering water transportation, recreational activities, and causing severe environmental degradation. In Mumbai, the Powai lake is under threat due to the rampant growth of water hyacinth. Similarly, Pune faces a significant challenge with water hyacinth in its lakes and rivers. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has invested substantial resources in removing water hyacinth from Pashan and Katraj lakes and three major rivers. However, these efforts have not yielded a lasting solution, leading to issues like increased mosquito populations and environmental harm. The financial implications are significant, with the PMC spending large sums annually to clear water hyacinth, yet a permanent solution remains elusive. Saguna Rural foundation has studied the issue from various aspects and has started searching for affordable solutions with environment friendly practices. The origin and extensive experience of the Saguna Jalsanvardhan Technique (SJT), is a testament to innovative and effective environmental management practices. This technique was developed in response to the challenges posed by the rampant growth of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed, in Saguna Baug's ponds.

In 2017, the team at Saguna Baug faced a significant challenge with the proliferation of water hyacinth in one of the nine ponds. This growth threatened the existing lotus cultivation and fish farming in the lake. Traditional methods like netting or manual removal proved ineffective in controlling the weed. In an experimental approach, applied glyphosate, a systemic herbicide. Remarkably, this intervention successfully eradicated the water hyacinth. Within a month, there was a noticeable increase in the abundance of lotus, fish, water birds, and bees, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique.

The success of this experiment gained widespread attention after being released through social media. In 2019, the Municipal Corporation of Aurangabad invited the Saguna Baug team to apply this technique to Dr. Salim Ali Sarovar, a historic 40-acre lake plagued by water hyacinth. The team successfully cleared the lake of the invasive weed, and as of the latest update, the lake remains free of water hyacinth.

Further extending their expertise, the Saguna team eradicated water hyacinth from the village of Ukrul in Karjat taluka. We also successfully cleared a 30 km stretch of the Ulhas river in Thane district of water hyacinth as part of the Ulhas Jalparni Mukt Abhiyan.

Throughout these operations, the team ensured environmental safety by periodically testing water samples for glyphosate residues. These tests, conducted by reputable laboratories, consistently showed no trace of glyphosate in the waters, affirming the environmental soundness of the technique. Biological assay test of LD-50 for Glyphosate with riverine fish was conducted 3 times at Saguna Baug showed not a single death or any disorder in the experimental fish was observed.

The success and environmental safety of the Saguna Jalsanvardhan Technique mark a significant advancement in the management of invasive aquatic weeds, offering a sustainable and effective solution to this global environmental challenge. Now, it is time to scale this technology to all over Maharashtra through the various government initiatives.