Apart from man-made pollution, Valankulam and several other tanks in the city are facing menace in the form of a floating aquatic plant, water hyacinth.
As the weed spreads fast in water covered areas of tanks, removal of the plant has become a routine exercise.
At present, the civic body is removing the aquatic weed from Valakulam.
Officials in the know of the exercise said that weed from two portions of the tank would be removed.
So far, workers have completed removal of water hyacinth from the portion of the tank lying close to Sungam. Removal of the weed from the remaining portion of the tank lying close to the railway track will be a tough task as the plant has covered the water all over.
“Though water level of the tank increased this year, fishing became difficult as nets could not be spread in the water due to the weed,” said a fisherman from the area.
At present, the weed removed from the tank is stacked along the tank bed, decaying of which has caused foul smell in the area.
