THE GREEN MONSTER IS HERE TO STAY Mount Abu

The Green Menace has spread its tentacles in Mount Abu.

Water hyacinth Abu Streams.

Water hyacinth Abu Streams.

The Water hyacinth has permanently invaded all our streams, covering our scarce water bodies with a weed cloak. This has doomed the viability of the existing ecosystem concerning the immediate areas around the streams. The little silverfish, which used to abound and serve as a food source for the visiting birds, are no longer visible. 

Birds such as

( White Throated Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail,  Little Black Cormorant, Little Grebe, Crested Serpent Eagle, Common Kingfisher, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Kingfisher) have not been returning as the stream is choking with the hyacinth weed.

The Lantana species that was introduced to Abu should have been a loud warning signal to our administration. Because of the extensive growth of Lantana, a mat-like structure is formed, which leads to the degradation and destruction of biodiversity. The Lantana has intruded on and snuffed out the terrain of the flourishing Karonda bush and the wild rose (Roses Abuensis) bushes. As a result, to see them, one needs to go in search of them. 

The municipality sent their workforce to clean the streams earlier in the year, but just sweeping the surface has had no effect! It’s like our modern generation with plastic bags. 

In the last few years, the Forest Department and our local administration have taken steps to curtail the invasive species (Lantana)from spreading by planting native flora species.

This GREEN menace has to be taken on a war footing; our Forest Department should take up the issue and employ our locals who depend on the forest for their livelihood, not only would it contain the forest from being depleted of its precious trees, but give meaningful and productive employment and keeping this hungry monster at bay.

 Taking concrete and constructive steps will help in affecting the ecological equilibrium.