The Hindu : Front Page : Over 35,000 take part in Madurai Marathon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 14, 2007
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Over 35,000 take part in Madurai Marathon

Staff Reporter

To spread awareness of the need to conserve water

MASS MOVEMENT: Public taking part enthusiastically in the `Madurai Marathon' on Saturday. — Photo: K. Ganesan

MADURAI: The public, district administration and non-governmental organisations (NGO) joined hands on Saturday for a noble cause of spreading awareness among the populace of the need to conserve water.

It assumes significance with the Union Government declaring 2007 as `Water Year - Year of more crop and income per drop of water.'

The `Madurai Marathon' was organised by the Dhan Foundation in association with Government departments, welfare organisations and educational institutions. It included a mini marathon, roller-skating, a walk and a run for the differently abled.

As an outcome of the event, the Dhan Foundation has decided to form a Centre for Renovation of Water bodies. It has also planned to devise programmes to protect all water bodies and implement them with the cooperation of Government, educational institutions and industrial houses.

`Model centres'

According to the organisers, the proceeds from the grand event will be used to set up `model centres,' which will guide the public in conserving water and protecting water bodies.

Steps have already taken to create a fund that will be used to desilt and maintain water bodies.

Dhan Foundation's wings in Sellur, Madurai, Karumbalai, Jaihindpuram and Then Madurai have promised to adopt and renovate two water bodies each.

Besides, they have also vouched to renovate all temple tanks.

Members of Kalanjiyam and `Vayalagam' movements of Dhan Foundation donated Rs.50,000 each to renovate water bodies.

More than 35,000 people took part in the event.

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