MUMBAI: Vexed with continued inaction from the authorities to clean Powai Lake which is packed to the brim with floating hyacinth plants, locals and environmentalists have launched a campaign to save the water body and its biodiversity. Over 1,000 signatures of residents have been collected.Under the banner of #SavePowaiLake, activists have sent an email to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to step in and order the civic authorities to clear the invasive water plants.“We have been pleading with civic officials for long, yet there is no action,” said Pamela Cheema, a resident of JalVayu Vihar, Powai.The officials need to check if any sewer lines are opening into the lake as the hyacinth growth has not been under check.Hyacinth adversely impacts biodiversity and it blocks sun rays in the lake, NatConnect director B N Kumar said in his email to the CM.

Powai lake is also home to crocodiles and a host of other aquatic life. Once a beautiful, sprawling wetland, Powai Lake presents a pathetic view and anyone driving on the main road can see, Kumar said, wondering as to why it has not caught the attention of any of the officials, ministers or elected representatives.There have been promises to beautify the lake,but they remained only on paper as the wetland continues to rot, Kumar added.Pictures speak more than a thousand words, said Shabbir Tambawala who presented a series of photographs of the lake, showcasing its “terrible” condition.The activists sent these pictures to the CM, marking the mail to the municipal commissioner while they simultaneously floated an online petition.“We care about Powai Lake because it’s more than just water-it’s life, history, and hope,” said Milan Bhat, a resident of Hiranandani Gardens, who launched a social media campaign.