Jammu runs for water conservation

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15

The much-awaited “Big Jammu Run - Run to Save Water” today received a tremendous response as people from all walks of life took part in the event amid cold weather conditions to create awareness on water preservation.

The highlight of the event was actress Zaira Wasim Khan, who played the role of wrestler Geeta Phogat in the Aamir Khan-starrer Bollywood blockbuster “Dangal”.

The event was organised by the Capacity and Communication Development Unit (CCDU), a water sanitation support organisation of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), J&K, in collaboration with 92.7 Big FM. It was earlier scheduled for January 8 but was postponed due to inclement weather conditions.

The enthusiasm among the participations could be gauged from the fact that the participants started reaching the venue, Gulshan Ground, early morning. Participation was not only confined to students. A large number of security personnel from the Army, CRPF, BSF and the police also participated to promote the cause.

The run was flagged off by Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary from Gulshan Ground in the presence of Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Farooq Ahmad Andrabi and other senior officers of different departments, besides prominent citizens at 10.15 am.

The 4-km-long “Big Jammu Run” passed through Green Field School, Gandhi Nagar, Green Belt Park, Gandhi Nagar and Bahu Plaza and finally culminated at Gulshan Ground. Earlier, before the commencement of the run, a zumba dance was also organised.

In her brief address to the participants, Zaira stressed on the need to save water for future as everybody was all ears to her appeal.

Er Rajeev Malhotra, Executive Director, CCDU, J&K, said the event recorded a participation of around 5,000 people. “It was more of a kind of an awareness drive to educate people about saving water which is decreasing at a rapid pace. If we cannot do something now it is quite possible that there will be no water for our future generations,” he added.

“It is high time now to take serious initiatives because our water bodies are drying up and time is not too far away when there will be no water resources available. Earlier, we used to collaborate with various other departments but this time it was done exclusively by the PHE Department on its own,” Malhotra said..