Thiruvananthapuram: Over 15,000 volunteers took part in the one-day mega cleaning drive of the 13.5 km stretch of the Killi River organised by the Killiyar City Mission under the city corporation on Tuesday.
The cleanup mission started last year identifying encroachers and those draining their waste into the stream flowing through the city and formulating a detailed action plan.
Local self-governments minister A.C. Moideen, who inaugurated the drive, said that the government aims at rejuvenating all water bodies in the state with public participation through Haritha Kerala Mission.
Appreciating the efforts of the corporation to clean up the river, Mr Moideen said that in the second phase strict action would be taken against violators polluting Killi River.
As part of the drive, volunteers cleaned up 13.5 km stretch from Vazhayila to Kalladimukham.
The cleaning mainly focused on the 65 spots along the river stretch where the accumulation of garbage was more.
Around 65 load waste were segregated and hauled out as part of the drive.
Students from 51 schools brought lunch for the volunteers who took part in the mega cleaning drive.
The schoolchildren distributed some 20,000 food packets and sent the excess ones to the Medical College Hospital.
