Deputy Commissioner of Haveri Krishna Bajpai and Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat K. Leelavathi jointly flagged off the walkathon at Hosamani Siddappa District Stadium.

A month long campaign for rural hygiene and cleanliness and water conservation was initiated in Haveri on Tuesday through a walkathon.

Deputy Commissioner of Haveri Krishna Bajpai and Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat K. Leelavathi jointly flagged off the walkathon at Hosamani Siddappa District Stadium. Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Haveri Zilla Panchayat have jointly organised the two campaigns ‘Swachmeva Jayate’ and ‘Jalamruta’.

The walkathon which was led by Mr. Bajpai and Ms .Leelavathi covered the thoroughfares of the city before concluding at Hosamni Siddappa Circle with the participants holding banners and placards aimed creating awareness on cleanliness and the need to conserve water.

Various government officials, members of different organisations, students, volunteers of Scouts and Guides and commoners took part in the walkathon and raised slogans on the need for cleanliness and importance of water.

At Hosamani Siddappa Circle, the participants formed human chain to further highlight the objective of the whole initiative.

Administering the oath to the participants, Mr. Bajpai asked them to make a pledge to refrain from open defecation, keep toilets clean, segregate dry and wet waste, use water economically, keep their surroundings clean and also plant and nurture saplings.