Over 3 Lakh Citizens Join 'Walk for Water' Event Across Maharashtra
More than three lakh citizens participated in the 'Maha Walkathon – Walk for Water' organised simultaneously across all 36 districts of Maharashtra, with the statewide event inaugurated at Worli in Mumbai. The initiative was launched to boost public participation in water management and soil conservation efforts.
Participants in the walkathon included students, youth, women, farmers, college students, government employees, and representatives of various social groups. As part of the drive, each participant walked three kilometres to spread awareness about the importance of water conservation.
Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod said the initiative aimed to turn water conservation into a collective public movement. He noted that water conservation is not solely the responsibility of the government but is directly linked to the future of every citizen, adding that the high turnout reflected the public's commitment to conserving natural resources.
The walkathon served as a platform to build awareness around several ongoing state water conservation initiatives. These include Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan 2.0, 'Galmukt Dharan, Galyukt Shivar', Amrit Sarovar, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchay Yojana.
Rathod emphasised that active citizen involvement is essential in areas such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, the protection of local water bodies, and the prevention of soil erosion to ensure sustainable results.
The state government is also preparing to implement a wider 'Water Conservation Campaign' scheduled to run from August 15, 2026, to January 26, 2027. That campaign will focus on watershed development, desilting, groundwater recharge, the revival of water sources, and soil conservation, alongside encouraging selected villages to build water absorption pits.
Rathod urged citizens to carry the message of water conservation beyond the single-day event into every household and village, noting that saving soil protects agriculture and conserving water secures the future of coming generations.
