- Title: Iraq begins campaign to rid Tigris of water weed
- Date: 20th October 2016
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VIEW OF TIGRIS RIVER, WATER HYACINTH ON SURFACE VARIOUS OF WATER HYACINTH/BIRDS ON PLANT WATER HYACINTH COVERING RIVER HYACINTH FLOWER VARIOUS OF CRANE REMOVING WATER HYACINTH WATER HYACINTH/CRANE ARM IN WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ENGINEER, KHALDOUN RAHIM, SAYING: ''The Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage has started clearing and removing the Nile flower from al-Shurta canal with an area of 200,000 square meters. The task requires 100 days’ worth of work.'' VARIOUS OF CRANES REMOVING WATER HYACINTH FROM RIVER VARIOUS OF SIGN READING (Arabic) ''MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, THE DIRECTORATE OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE' THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE DIRECTORATE OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, BAGHDAD ALA HUSSEIN ABASS AT HIS DESK IRAQI FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE DIRECTORATE OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, ALA HUSSEIN ABASS, SAYING: ''Because of a lack of financial allocations to remove such a plant, it (the Nile flower) propagates and increased a lot. This plant has a negative impact and influence on the environment and water, as each plant absorbs two to four litres of water a day. These plants hinder the work of the water purification and treatment stations, electrical power and oil stations as they block the flow of water into the these stations. Upon the directives of the minister Hassan al-Janabi, we started a very intensive campaign to remove these plants.'' CRANE ON RIVER BANK REMOVING WATER HYACINTH VIEW OF WATER HYACINTH ON RIVER VARIOUS OF CRANE IN WATER REMOVING WATER HYACINTH
- Embargoed: 4th November 2016 10:19
- Keywords: Tigris River Iraq Baghdad weed aquatic life
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA00154T4579
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Tigris River flows from Turkey into Iraq.
It's a vital source of water, but drought, pollution and rising levels of salinity have threatened the river's aquatic life.
Now there's a new threat spreading on the surface of the water - growth of water hyacinth, also known as 'Nile flower'.
The plant is commonly found in Sudan, Egypt, Tanzania and Uganda. But it has its roots in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
Yet, it's growing at an alarming rate here prompting authorities to launch a clean-up campaign to rid the river of the water weed.
It's a lengthy task, as one of the engineers, Khaldoun Rahim, explains.
''The Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage has started clearing and removing the Nile flower from al-Shurta canal with an area of 200,000 square meters. The task requires 100 days worth of work,'' he said.
There are a number of different ways to eradicate the plant, pesticides can be sprayed on the leaves, biological controls can be introduced through organisms or what is being done here -- mechanical removal of the species.
Ala Hussein Abass is from the Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage based in Baghdad.
According to Abass the plant is absorbing two to four litres of water a day -- at a time when water is already a scare resource in the country.
''Because of a lack of financial allocations to remove such a plant, it (the Nile flower) propagates and increased a lot. This plant has a negative impact and influence on the environment and water, as each plant absorbs two to four litres of water a day. These plants hinder the work of the water purification and treatment stations, electrical power and oil stations as they block the flow of water into the these stations, he said.
The invasive flower can double its size in a matter of weeks, taking over most of the slow-moving river. If it isn't removed successfully it can choke marine life, block sunlight to the native plant life and it can starve the water of oxygen. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
