Over 250 tonnes of garbage and debris were removed from the two main water bodies—Ranisagar and Budhasagar —of the city on the first day of the cleaning drive launched here on Sunday.

Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and team of newly recruited trainee police constables were included in the drive launched by the administration. Water hyacinths and garbage spread in all sides of both the lakes were removed using a JCB.

The administration had appealed for the co-operation of general public in the cleanliness drive. Collector Ashok Agrawal led the cleanliness campaign at both the lakes.

The Collector, a day earlier had inspected the road leading from Triveni premises to Choupatti behind the Digvijay College. During the inspection, the collector, on seeing garbage and mismanagement on the banks of the lakes, expressed displeasure and instructed the officers concerned for their cleaning.

Agrawal had appealed to the peoples’ representatives, voluntary organisations, social and service oriented institutions, sports associations, Chairman and members of Budhasagar Bachav Samiti to offer service for the cleaning of Budhasagar lake and to participate in the pious work of water conservation.

The cleaning work has been taken up at Ranisagar and Budhasagar lakes from Sunday morning. Besides this, the district administration and voluntary organisations, NCC cadets, newly recruited police constables also offered their services.

Including Collector Agrawal and Municipal Corporation Commissioner Verma, other administrative officers and employees also engaged in the garbage removal drive. The water hyacinths and garbage was removed by the JCB machines from the water bodies were transported through tippers.