Team Herald
VASCO: A 17-year-old Sahil Jha, who is on a bicycle tour from Kolkata to Coimbatore for Save Soil Movement reached Port Town on Tuesday morning.
Jha arrived at the Mormugao Municipal Council where he was felicitated by Chairperson Leo Rodrigues in the presence of other councillors and members of the Isha Foundation.
Jha said that the motive of his cycle tour across the country was to create awareness of saving soil for future generations as the United Nations has predicted that our food production is going to drop by 45 per cent in the next 20 years.
Jha started cycling from Kolkata on May 1 this year. He said that India may face scarcity and shortage of food and advocated the need for a Save Soil Policy in the country as well as across the world to increase its organic content and fertility and prevent soil degradation. “We need more and more people to join this movement to create awareness,” said Jha.
From Goa, Jha will peddle to Maharashtra followed by Madhya Pradesh and travel to 28 States. So far he covered eight States in the last five months. He intends to cover all the States within the next two years.
Jha said since below 18, his parents were worried initially but now they were supportive as he is receiving support from members of the Isha Foundation all along the way providing him food and accommodation.
Leo Rodrigues and other MMC councillors congratulated Sahil Jha for his initiative and dedication to creating awareness on save soil through cycling.
