Niranam/ Pathanamthitta: People have once again begun flocking to the banks of the Kolarayar, as the river shows signs of life thanks to a community-led cleanup initiative. The collective effort to remove water hyacinths and weeds that had choked the river's flow has been kick-started under the leadership of the Kolarayar Protection Council.

The council, formed eight years ago with the motto 'Let the Kolarayar flow,' was established to revive the dying waterbody. Today, it is back in action, determined to restore the 11-kilometre-long river that originates at Arakkal Muyppu and flows through the Kadapra and Niranam panchayats before merging with the Areethodu stream.

As part of the ongoing campaign, a 1.5-kilometre stretch between Poovanmeli and Ilanjikkal Bridge, where the river meets the Areethodu canal, has already been cleared of invasive vegetation. The committee has decided to continue the cleanup in the coming days.

The initiative is led by a team comprising Abraham Mathai, P O Mathew, Bineesh Kumar, Ratheesh Kumar, Rijo Renny Theveril, Ajil Purakkal, Monichan Manthrayil, Ratheesh Tharissil and Prasad Panakkamattom.

According to Roby Thomas, the initiative, carried out entirely without government support, is drawing more public participation each day. The team aims to remove all water hyacinths and weeds from the river within two weeks.

Daniel Thomas Karikkottu added that a similar cleanup drive will soon begin along the stretch of the river that flows through the Kadapra panchayat as well.