Vijaywada to run monthly drive to clean canals

VIJAYAWADA: The ‘Neenu Saitam Krishnamma Suddhi Sevalo’ drive, which motivates to clean city canals, begins on May 2.Staff of various government departments, non-governmental organisations, students and environmentalists will participate in the clean drive.

AMd Imtiyaz, Joint Collector and M Rama Rao, Commissioner, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation said that the drive would be taken up for two days every month.Addressing a joint press conference on May1, they said that as many as 15,000 people will take part in the drive at about 15 places in the city on May 2.

CCTVs would be installed at identified places to prevent dumping of garbage and other waste in canals. About 81 places have been identified where wastewater was being released into the canals. “We are planning to divert the drainages and prevent dumping of bio-medical waste, fish and chicken waste and tender coconut shells in canals and save the environment,” said Rama Rao.Imtiyaz appealed to students and residents to cooperate with the officials in maintaining hygiene in the city, and participate in the drive.

More than fifty government department and 101 NGOs will participate in the cleaning programme. Imtiyaz said, Krishna river bund, Bandar Canal, Ryves, Eluru and Krishna East canals, which flow through the city would be cleaned.