Visitors to the Nehru Zoo who look forward to a boat ride in the historic Mir Alam Tank are often left disappointed. The reason: the water body is infested with water hyacinth that prevents boating.
The Tourism Department has been unable to operate the boats or remove the weed. Entrance to the boating, introduced about a decade ago, is through the zoo.
Two boats, a mechanised one with a seating capacity of 20, and a smaller one that can carry four people, are operated from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. However, as water hyacinth has covered a large portion of the lake, the boats operate within a fraction of the area around the zoo on a clear day, and on most other days enthusiastic visitors are turned away.
Hundreds of families visit the zoo park daily. The numbers show significant rise during the vacations. “If boating activity is stopped here, we will have to go to the Hussainsagar. Given the distance for us locals, it is taxing,” said Hameed, a businessman from the old city.
The Tourism Department expresses it helplessness at the situation. “Many a time we stop operations as boating is dangerous in such conditions. Boats are unable to move around freely and there is always the risk of an accident,” said a tourism official.
The current condition of the lake has also put paid to the department’s hopes to introduce more and new boats. “We will be doing it after new boats are introduced at the Hussainsagar. But unless the water hyacinth is not cleared, it will be unsuccessful,” the official concedes.
