more-in Gearing up for a massive clean-up drive, the city Corporation has decided to hold river walks on August 5 to create awareness on the widespread pollution of the Killi river. The executive committee of the Killi river city mission, convened by Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.K. Prasanth on Monday, finalised the schedule of the various programmes that will culminate with a mega clean-up of the heavily polluted water body on September 8. Prior to the drive, a survey to assess the quality of the water will be held on July 15. The meeting also resolved to adopt stringent action against households and private institutions that discharged wastes to the river. While the local body identified 1,096 houses that were located close to the river, as many as 276 were found to be discharging wastes directly or indirectly. The Health wing of the Corporation served notices to 235 households, of which 174 have rectified the inadequacies that existed during the source-level waste disposal. While some commercial establishments were also directed to ensure proper waste management, the Corporation currently awaited inspection reports from the Pollution Control Board. A preliminary study also found roughly 590 loads of waste materials dumped in the river from 16 points including Edappazhinji, Karimadom colony, Maruthamkuzhy and Jagathy bridges, and Killipalam. The Corporation targeted a Guinness World record by engaging over 10,000 volunteers for the clean-up drive that will be spread across 13.65 km from Vazhayila to Kalladimukham through which the river flows. Speaking on the occasion, O. Rajagopal, MLA, raised concerns regarding the large-scale encroachment along the banks of the river. He called for effective steps to remove illegal constructions and remove encroachers. CPI (M) district secretary Anavoor Nagappan recommended steps to protect the river banks using coir geotextile and bamboo. He also called for bringing the canals and drains that led to the Killi river under the ambit of the mission. Around 42 km of drains, which passed through various wards, must be cleaned simultaneously, he said. Some councillors, including S. Madhusoodanan Nair and R.C. Beena, representing the Pangode and Attukal wards respectively, claimed that the lack of proper drainage system in various parts of the city hampered effective waste management. Federation of Residents’ Association general secretary M.S. Venugopal advocated steps to prevent further accumulation of garbage in the river. CCTV cameras should be installed at various points along the river banks as part of intensifying enforcement, he said. Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar, Development standing committee chairman Vanchiyoor P. Babu, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation chairman M. Vijayakumar, and other councillors and officials of various departments were also present.

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