The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Pedalling for river-linking

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Pedalling for river-linking

B. Chandrashekhar

Tamil Nadu man on unique mission

Cauvery row between Karnataka and T.N. spurred him to act
In 2007, his 50-day cycle yatra covered 3,500 km

ANANTAPUR: He’s neither a politician nor a social activist. But, he’s out on a rather noble cause of educating people about the necessity of river- linking in the country. He has been on the mission on a bicycle for almost five months now covering about 10,000 km across the country.

Meet S. Sanjeevi (40) of Rambathura Kandrigai, a small habitation in Pallipattu taluka of Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu. He ekes out a living running a small wayside hotel in the village. But, what made him think of taking up the cause of education people on a complex issue of water.

Cauvery row

Having spent most of his youth in Bangalore working as a daily wager for almost 20 years, he shifted to his native place after marriage. The row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka some years ago over the Cauvery water issue, spurred him on to do something. “The Centre would direct Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu the latter’s rightful quota every year but the former would not listen leading to the drinking water and irrigation problems in the command area of Cauvery in Tamil Nadu,” he said. Though he’s studied only up to class V, he thought it fit that only river-linking in the country would end similar problems all over the country and the idea of creating awareness among people followed. In early 2007, he undertook a bicycle yatra in South India on the issue and covered about 3,500 km in 50 days .

He embarked on this mission on September 24, 2007, carrying 20 kg luggage on his bicycle . “I cover 35 to 100 km every day,” he said.

Sanjeevi left home with Rs. 5,000 and contributions from people en route kept his yatra going. “There’s very good response from the people ,” he said. He has already covered Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. He entered Andhra Pradesh in on January 24 .

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