PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The authorities should encourage sustainable tourism and development in the State, member of the Making a Difference by Being a Difference (MAD) Karan Kapoor said while addressing the media here on Friday. He said this while informing about a run being organised by the group on June 8.
Kapoor said that MAD, a student activist group funded by their own pocket money, focuses on river rejuvenation and environmental sustainability. For many years, they have consistently drawn attention to the critical state of local rivers and streams, particularly the Rispana and Bindal rivers. He said that Dehradun has seven rivers in total. Kapoor said that over time, many programmes at school have revealed that students are often unaware of the names of the rivers- especially the Rispana river- which they frequently refer to as ‘Nalas’ or by other descriptions.
MAD has urged the government to take necessary measures for the purpose of river preservation on many occasions. One study has acknowledged that the Rispana river is perennial; however, it has been depleting over time due to waste and garbage. To raise awareness about these issues, the group is organising the run on June 8.
Kapoor further said that the run will begin at 5:30 AM from the Parade Ground and will cover areas such as the Clock Tower, Bindal Bridge, Raj Bhawan, Behel Chowk and other areas before concluding back at the Parade Ground. They have also approached chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for his presence at the event, although it is yet to be confirmed. This event will be India’s first largest plastic-free run, as it will be conducted without using any plastic bottles or plastic flex, he averred. Items made from waste will be utilised for the purpose of decorations, he added.
The run is open to men, women and senior citizens, covering a distance of 10 kilometres. So far, 3,500 participants have registered and more are expected. A registration fee of Rs 20 is being charged and various cash prizes have been set, with a total of Rs 50,000 allocated for the prizes, he said. Kapoor also added that many organisations are supporting this event. The main objective is to raise awareness about the urgent need to rejuvenate the drying streams of Doon. He emphasised that the State government should focus on developing projects, including the elevated roads project, using their own State model rather than adopting models from other States.
