Mumbai, More than three lakh citizens across 36 districts of Maharashtra have joined the ‘Maha Walkathon’ initiative to advance soil and water conservation efforts, state Minister Sanjay Rathod said on Friday.
Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Sachin Ahir described the walkathon as an innovative initiative to take the message of saving soil and conserving water to people at the grassroots level.
Speaking at the event in Worli, Rathod said the programme, organised on the birth anniversary of former chief minister late Sudhakarrao Naik, is a step towards creating a water-secure state by raising awareness on the importance of soil and water conservation. “Save soil, conserve water and build a safe Maharashtra” was the central message of the ‘Maha Walkathon – Walk for Water’ initiative, he said. Minister of State for Soil and Water Conservation Indranil Naik said increasing public participation was essential, as rainwater flowing away also carries fertile soil and prevents water from percolating into the ground.
“Soil and water are directly linked to the future of Maharashtra. The minister also recalled Naik’s contribution to institutionalising soil and water conservation and giving a wider people’s movement to the concept of ‘Pani Adva, Pani Jirva’ .
The Soil and Water Conservation Department organised the programme to increase public participation in conservation efforts, and instead of limiting discussions on the issue to meetings at Mantralaya, the government decided to take the awareness campaign directly to the people, Rathod said. Government efforts need people’s participation, particularly that of the youth, to strengthen the water conservation movement,” he said.
