The city Corporation has begun the first phase of cleaning up of Killi River by using JCBs to remove waste from sites along the river which are otherwise not easily accessible by volunteers.
This is the preliminary clean up activity ahead of the mega cleaning planned for December 22.
With various political parties requesting for postponing of the mega clean up programme by a few days, a meeting of all the councillors has been convened on Monday to discuss the final dates
A Killi River Master Plan is proposed to be prepared to chalk out the programmes to revive the river and for continued conservation. This Master Plan is proposed to be incorporated into the city’s development plan with an emphasis laid on city’s natural resources.
Detailed survey
Over the past few weeks, a detailed survey was conducted along the river, with information being collected on the type of waste dumps, socio economic profile of the population living by the river, the ways that the public make use of the river and a mapping off all the infrastructure along the river.
Out of the 767 units that were surveyed, 86% were residential, 7% commercial, 2% industrial, 1% institutional and the rest mixed use. Of the total number of units surveyed, 17 (2%) units said that that they depend on Killi for bathing, 24 (3%) units mentioned that they use Killi for washing clothes, utensils or vehicles, about 37(5%) units use it for throwing waste into the river.
Interviews with inhabitants of residential units located adjacent to the river suggests that Killi river was a major source of water for bathing and washing.
However, with the piped water supply and a steady increase in pollution, discouraged people to use the water flowing through the river. However, there are several ghats along the river where dhobis continue to use water for washing clothes.
Waste dumped
The detailed survey suggests that waste thrown into the river is collected at critical points along the river and its banks.
Most often this is seen under bridges and places where the river bends. More than 75 dumping spots were identified, with a total of 143 tonnes of waste collected at these points.
There are more than 20 drain pipes that empty into the river.
The report concludes that Killiyar cleaning needs strategies that are participatory in nature that includes the citizens of the city be it the dwellers, residents association representatives, student community, representatives of commercial establishments, health workers, social workers, administrators and councillors.
The immediate strategies include the clean up drives and steps to strengthen the river banks.
