India’s biggest floating island released in Neknampur lake

Hyderabad: On the occasion of World Wetland Day, city-based NGO Dhruvansh has introduced biggest floating island of India at Neknampur Lake on Friday. The duo of Dhruvansh NGO, Madhulika and Neeraj Singh started Neknampur restoration programme in June 2016 adopting various cost effective methodologies to clean the lake. After successful introduction of 10×10 feet floating islands last year, the NGO introduced 2,500 square feet floating island with 3,500 wetland plants floating on this platform.

The water body is affected due to sewage. The floating island introduced close to the inlet ensures filtration of inflows passing through its different layers. Since the lake is known for aquatic life and for attracting



the avians, the hope is that once cleaned it would again attract the fish and the birds. Dhruvansh NGO chairman, Madhulika Chowdary said that the island platform was designed using Styrofoam, bamboo, gunny bags, coir etc. in the shape of cuboid.

Madhulika said the floating bed has 27 cuboids planted with a variety of plants including Vetiver, Canna, Cattails, Citronella, Hibiscus, Fountain grass, flowering herbs, Tulasi and Ashvagandha used in combination of mosquito repellent plants, water cleaning plants, biodiversity increasing plants. “Technically the floating bed could be feasible for more than two years from now. This floating island will bring revolution in urban lake restoration”, she said.