In a bid to make the Krishna river and its canals in the district pollution-free, the district administration is going to take up a massive cleanliness drive starting May 2, said Collector A. Md. Imtiaz.

According to a release, Mr. Imtiaz conducted a review meeting with the officials of Water Resources, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, Revenue, Panchayat Raj and others on Thursday regarding the action plan for the special drive.

He said the drive would be conducted on May 2 and 3 to free the river and city’s Bandar, Eluru and Ryves canals from pollution. The drive would be formally inaugurated at Yanamalakuduru.

Utter neglect

Mr. Imtiaz said the canals, which were a source of irrigation and drinking water for farmers and many areas, had been highly polluted and utterly neglected.

People were dumping garbage, building construction material, meat waste, plastic, tyres, coconut shells and other trash in the canals besides letting in sewage, he said.

He asked officials to ensure that no waste was dumped into the canals hereafter and called upon government agencies, students, NGOs and others to come forward and take part in the drive against pollution.