According to a Chennai Corporation official, the hyacinths are presently dumped and laid waste at landfills in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi. “Those weeds hinder the water flow in Cooum and Adyar rivers, apart from the Buckingham Canal and other major canals. We are clearing the plants from those drains to prevent flooding during rains and mosquito breeding,” the official said.

There are 23 biogas plants with a feeding capacity of 8.94 tonnes and 5 bio-electricity plants with a collective feeding capacity of 11.50 tonnes in the city. While these plants are maintained by Solid Waste Management Department of Chennai Corporation, hyacinth recycling plant would be maintained by Works Department. “The new hyacinth recycling plant will be built in Amullavoyal near Manali at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, of which Rs. 1.7 crore will be utilised for procuring equipment for the plant. The feeding capacity will be 5 tonnes,” the official added.

Although the civic body is planning to use the facility for recycling hyacinths, the official said that food and other bio-degradable waste could also be fed to the plant. “Once the plant starts functioning, hyacinths will be transported to Amullavoyal plant instead of landfills,” the official added. Amullavoyal recycling plant would be a part of Smart City Mission. The project is carried out using the Smart City Fund.