The Hindu : Front Page : `Save Cauvery' march takes off from Tiruchi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

`Save Cauvery' march takes off from Tiruchi

Special Correspondent

To sensitise people to importance of water sources

WALKING FOR A CAUSE: A section of participants of `Save Cauvery' march, which started in Tiruchi on Tuesday. — Photo: M. Moorthy.

TIRUCHI: A group of 200 people, including women and youth, took part in a `Save River Cauvery padayatra' from here to Thiruengoimalai near Musiri on Tuesday.

The 50-km march organised by Gramalaya, a non-governmental organisation, in connection with World Water Day, was taken out to highlight the importance of conserving water sources, preventing pollution and create awareness among people of this subject. The Water Aid, United Kingdom, and the WaterPartners International, United States of America, jointly sponsored the event.

Lifeline

The Cauvery is the lifeline of millions of people throughout its 800-km long stretch running through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Besides being used for irrigation, the river has been the main drinking water source to a large number of towns and villages. The river is polluted not only by industries, but also by fertilizers, sewage and open defecation on its banks.

Members of self-help groups, volunteers of `Alaigal' women's organisation and Gramalaya staff participated in the yatra, which was flagged off from near Cauvery Bridge by the district president of Exnora, G. Subramanian. The Indian Director of WaterPartners International, S. Damodaran, the Managing Director of Gramalaya, J. Geetha, Field Publicity Officer, M. Theresnathan, and L. Veeraraghavan of WaterPartners International, who spoke, underlined the need to protect the Cauvery. They called upon the people to extend their total support for such campaigns.

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