Hyderabad: The Neknampur Lake could well have entered the Indian Book of Records for being the largest floating wetland. The only glitch is that a few lake experts across the city have questioned the move to use thermocol in the creation of the artificial base. They say that the same base could have been made with recycled plastic bottles and mesh, which is frequently done abroad.
Thermocol which is the common and popular name for styrofoam is classified as category 18 in the schedule of hazardous wastes and therefore it becomes harmful for water bodies.
When a fire broke out on the premises of Bellandur Lake, it was largely attributed to the presence of discarded thermocol in the water.
Dr Subba Rao, a lake expert, says, “It is widely popular to use bamboo sticks for such floating systems in South-East Asia. They are eco-friendly when compared to the poisonous thermocol. Although thermocol floats, it can also pose a threat to the water system because at the end of the day, it is not something that you get naturally from the environment. There needs to be more scientific study on the use of the same.”
He also stated that while it might be for a good cause, without a continued scientific monitoring system, the effects of the wetland cannot be ascertained.
Officials from the organisation in charge of the wetland said that they had picked plants that are well-suited for the polluted water.
