Chennai: Marathons, from time immemorial, were used for different reasons. These days, they are conducted for spreading awareness on multiple issues, and what better cause than to run for mother nature?
This time around, there is a ‘Water Run’ that is set to be conducted at Ambattur from Old Baroda Bank Road to Korattur lake for a distance of 6.5 km on 27 January. The objective of the run is to create awareness among people to save waterbodies and protect the environment.
Co-ordinator of the event, Margabandhu, said, “the marathon is jointly organised by Ambattur Waterbodies Protection Movement (AWPM) and Korattur Lake Protection People Movement. I am an office-bearer in the former and I am taking care of the registrations both online and offline, for the event.”
He said around 3,000 individuals are expected to take part at the event which will be flagged by Additional Commissioner of Police (North) R Dhinakaran at 7.30 am.
“We will be giving a jersey and a completion certificate apart from a cap to students who participate. Further, we have arranged for refreshments and have asked the police for protection at every signal,” said Margabandhu.
Co-ordinator of AWPM, S P Nedumaran, said, “This is one of very few runs that are done with focus on saving waterbodies. We have invited top officials to come and join us and hopefully they will. We wish to tell to residents to at least take care of the waterbodies in and around their neighbourhood. We hope to work closely with officials to achieve our goals”
When asked about the run, Ganesh, a resident of Korattur, said, “It is good that such an event is set to be conducted. Over the years, many waterbodies have vanished in our neighbourhood. We need to save the ones that are left so that the next generation can at least know how a lake or a pond looks like. Such is the extent of encroachments. I hope that people turn up in huge numbers to support the event. It is free too, so why shouldn’t they? I will be going.”
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