Student to cycle from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to highlight country's water woes

A 24-year-old student from Manipur has set out on a 3,461-km journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari on a cycle to draw the government's attention to water scarcity in several parts of the country.

Phillem Rohan Singh began his journey on June 15 from Srinagar. As part of his campaign, "Water For Life", he will cross 12 cities within 12 weeks.

Besides Srinagar, Singh will pass through Amritsar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Karnool and Bengaluru before finally reaching Kanyakumari.

"The motive of the campaign is to draw the government's attention towards the current scenario of water scarcity in the country and towards the overall water-related problems," Rohan told PTI.

"I have decided to do this not to raise money or for fame, but to act for humanity," he said.

Referring to the severe water crisis in various parts of the country, like Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada regions in Maharashtra and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, he said the situation needs to be improved for the sake of people.

Singh's campaign is being supported by Greater Noida-based Sharda University, where he is pursuing a masters degree in English, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, M Haseeb Mughal, who flagged off Singh's campaign, said, "The motive of the event is to spread the message of saving nature and national integration. It also shows that the Jammu and Kashmir Police takes sports activities seriously and is always at the forefront for their promotion."