A joint initiative of the public as well as various other organisations will be launched on May 11 and 12 to clean up the Amayizhanjan canal as part of the pre-monsoon cleaning drive in the city.
A meeting was held here on Tuesday to work out an action plan for cleaning the canal. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran chaired the meeting.
Encroachments
Major Irrigation Department will secure the permission of Railways for cleaning the canal.
The department will also identify the encroachments on the bank of the canal and mark it. Mr. Surendran directed the Thiruvananthapuram Taluk Tehsildar to take follow-up action.
The meeting decided to entrust the Mining and Geology Department to remove the sand and waste from the canal.
The city Corporation will clean up the areas including the precincts of the Pallithura bridge.
Trees and its roots that impede the smooth flow of water in the canal would be removed with the help of the Kerala State Inland Navigation Department. Drains will be cleaned under the aegis of the Public Works Department (Roads).
Lorries, excavators and such other paraphernalia will be deployed with the cooperation of various organisations. Responsibility for the cleaning drive will be assigned to specific groups in each area. The Corporation has been told to identify place for dumping the refuse.
Committee formed
A committee with Major Irrigation executive engineer P.K. Balachandran as convenor and Corporation Health officer A. Sasikumar has been formed for coordinating the drive.
The meeting decided to seek the support and cooperation of the Army, Fire and Rescue Services, CRPF, police, NCC and such others for the drive.
Representatives of various political parties, service organisations, elected members of local governments, and heads of departments attended the meeting.
