ANANTAPUR: Around 150 citizens joined a clean-up drive along the heavily polluted Tungabhadra HLC Canal in Anantapur on Sunday, removing nearly 5,000 kg of plastic and other waste. The initiative, titled ‘Clean Drive for a Clean and Green Ananthapur’, was organised jointly by Discover Ananthapuram, Rotary Club of Anantapur, SR Defence Academy and city youth. Discover Ananthapuram founder A.G. Anil Kumar and volunteers removed around six tractor loads of plastic and garbage from the canal and its surroundings. The canal, an important water channel passing through the city, had accumulated large quantities of waste, raising concerns over pollution and public health. Anil Kumar said the initiative was aimed at cleaning the HLC Canal and encouraging sustained citizen participation in keeping the city clean and green.