A journey by boat along the Kottayam-Alappuzha route is no longer fun.
An explosion of the water hyacinth in Vembanad lake, its adjoining rivers and streams, has thrown the water transport system in the region into disarray with boats often getting stuck mid-water.
The weeds have also threatened the aquatic life in these water bodies and polluted water, besides affecting the transportation of drinking water to the backwater villages and movement of paddy and other materials.
