The floating aquatic weed known as the Terror of Bengal is now the raw material behind Assam’s latest innovation. A handmade paper brand is using water hyacinth — an invasive plant species that’s often seen as a menace — to create something meaningful and eco-friendly.

“We have named it Kumbhi Kagaz because it comes from jala kumbhi, Sanskrit for water hyacinth,” says Rupankar Bhattacharjee, co-founder of the Assam-based startup behind the paper brand.

Handmade paper has already been made from cotton waste, banana fibre, and even elephant dung. But this one stands out. Kumbhi Kagaz is currently in the process of getting an Indian patent, and is made using only water hyacinth pulp, without the use of any chemicals.

Water hyacinth, locally known as pani meteka, is widely available across Assam. Its stems and roots spread across water bodies in many parts of the state, including the wetlands of Pub Mongoldoi in Darrang district and Deepor Beel, Assam’s only Ramsar site.

Districts such as Kokrajhar, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Tinsukia and Majuli also see widespread growth of the plant, which has long been a concern in the region. The free-floating weed is known to cover large parts of water bodies, choking them and depleting oxygen levels. This blocks sunlight and kills aquatic life.

It’s for this reason that water hyacinth is often referred to as the Terror of Bengal. But now, through a blend of........

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