From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Vijayapura, Dec 24: Industries minister M B Patil on Sunday led a ‘Run Vijayapura Run’ Heritage Run in Vijayapura on December 24.
The marathon run campaign with an aim of establishing green cover in Vijayapura has been organised by the industries minister in honour of Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji for protection of ancient heritage artefacts.
There were five different types of marathons for 21kms, 10kms, 5kms, 3.5kms and 800mts in which over 10000 enthusiasts participated.
Barefoot runner Preeti Manish, actors master Kishan and Gurunandan, Sharad Chavan Katapada Sulatha Kamath, Prashant Hipparagi, Rajinder Kaur, Venkatesh Adiga, Samir Joshi and Ananatharamu were among the notable persons who participated.
Industry minister Patil joined the marathon near Gol Gumbaz. The minister, who addressed a gathering at the Vijayapura district stadium said the annual feature of the Vijayapura green cover marathon is remarkable in the sense that the green cover in the district was barely 0.17 per cent at the beginning. So far, about 1.5 trees have been planted and the green cover has touched 2 per cent now. “We have a long way to increase the green cover to 30 or 35 per cent,” he said.
He announced that next year’s marathon will be organised in the second week of December with a view to create awareness about protecting the environment and planting trees and looking after them.
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