New Delhi, Sep 15 (UNI) In an initiative to reach out to more people with the message of water conservation and river rejuvenation, National Mission for Clean Ganga organised 'The Great Ganga Run' here on Sunday to bring 'Jan' and 'Jal' closer to one another.
Addressing people on the occasion, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the work of bringing the 'Jan' (people) and 'Jal' (water) was done by National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Participation of the people in the run corroborates the fact that people are not only aware of the importance of water but are active to conserve the important resource, he pointed out.
Mr Shekhawat said support of common people was needed to make Ganga, its basin and its tributaries clean and pure.
'Government's efforts alone will not bear fruits. The society as a whole will have to connect with it with a sense of collective social responsibility,' he said.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria were also present on the occasion at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
After the run, Mr Shekhawat participated in cleaning up the stadium, thus fulfilling the pledge 'swatchta hi seva' (Cleanliness is Service) to mark Prime Minister Naredra Modi's birthday, which falls on September 17.
Mr Shekhawat tweeted 'Thanks to Kiren Rijiju for being there & support the cause of Maa Ganga. It is close to every Indian's heart. It was pleasure to flag off the run with my colleague Rattan Lal Kataria'
'It is a cause that is close to every Indian's heart - A Clean Ganga,' he said, adding 'Thousands of citizens joined the run pledging themselves to the cause Namami Gange'.
Mr Rijiju tweeted, 'The Great Ganga Run flagged off with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at New Delhi. It was a wonderful moment as thousands of citizens joined the run pledging Namami Gange to fulfill the vision of PM Narendra Modi for a clean Ganga.'
UNI RSA PS 1539