Fitness is not the only reason that motivates a group of 15 runners, who will be hitting the roads next month. Running, they say, can be beneficial to society too.
In the last five years, members of Mera Terah Run, a Bengaluru-based collective, have taken up running campaigns across the country to spread awareness on forest conservation, the need to protect lakes, and other similar issues.
This year, the runners will draw the public’s attention to the litter around heritage sites in Bengaluru and other cities including Hampi, Pune, Aurangabad and Indore.
“Hundreds of people visit famous heritage sites across the country. While they take back memories of the place, they tend to leave a lot of trash behind, which is not only an eyesore, but also a serious environmental threat to the site and its surroundings. When we were planning our 13-day December event, we decided to go on a plog run,” said Brijesh Gajera, a core member of the running group. Each runner will be carrying a trash bag and will collect dry waste at places that see a lot of visitors.
As a precursor to the event, on Saturday, the runners organised a plog run in and around Lalbagh and Basavanagudi, where runners collected dry waste. “We want to make this a regular exercise,” Mr. Gajera added.
The final run will kick-start from Bengaluru on December 15 where runners will pick up dry waste along their route around heritage sites in the city.
From Bengaluru, they will head to Hampi, Badami, Vijayapura, Pune, Aurangabad, Bhopal and Indore. “In each of these places, we have identified heritage sites and will plan the route around them,” said Mr. Gareja.
Runners will cover a distance of 13 km each day. “We are connecting with local municipalities and NGOs, and will hand over the collected trash to them for recycling. Local running groups will join us in each of the cities for the campaign. We will also interact with tourists and residents to discuss the need to safeguard our heritage,” he added.
