Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa taking part in the cyclothon organised by the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike outside the historic Bahmani Fort in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Children taking part in the marathon organised by the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike as part of Independence Day celebrations in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
ARUN KULKARNI
The Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike organised a marathon and cyclothon on Friday as part of its Independence Day celebrations, combining the messages of cleanliness, environmental protection, and patriotism.
The ‘Run for Shatabhishekam’ marathon and cyclothon began at the historic Bahmani Fort in Kalaburagi and passed through Jagat Circle before culminating at Thimmapur Circle.
Inaugurating the event, Kalaburagi Mayor Varsha Jane said keeping the city clean was not the responsibility of the civic body alone but also the duty of every citizen. She urged residents to segregate wet and dry waste at the source and hand it over properly to pourakarmikas. “Only when everyone joins hands can we transform Kalaburagi into a clean and beautiful city,” she said.
Superintendent of Police Addur Srinivasulu said a clean environment was the foundation of a healthy life. He urged people to take responsibility for cleanliness in their homes, wards, and the city, and to develop the habit of segregating wet and dry waste instead of dumping garbage indiscriminately.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Sankanur said cleanliness was also important for tourism and development. Visitors form their first impression of a city from its surroundings, and a clean city offers several social and economic benefits, apart from providing a healthier environment, he said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Ashish Reddy cautioned against the harmful impact of plastic on the environment. He appealed to people to reduce the use of single-use plastic and avoid dumping plastic waste on roadsides and in public places.
Corporation Commissioner Avinash Shinde said continuous awareness programmes were being conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The marathon and cyclothon were organised to take the message of cleanliness to a larger section of the public. He appealed to citizens not to litter and to respect the efforts of pourakarmikas.
In the cyclothon, Dattatreya Deepak secured first place, followed by Venkatesh Muralidhar in second, and Lakshmiputra Gurulingappa in third. Prateek, Srilakshmi, and Rahul Ranoji were among the notable performers in the marathon.
Following the run, various competitions were organised for children at S.M. Pandit Rangamandir. These included a drawing competition on the theme ‘Swachh Bharat and Independence Day’ and a Toykathon to create models of a clean India using waste materials. The activities aimed to create awareness among children and young people about cleanliness and responsible citizenship.
City Corporation members Anupama Kamaknoor and Ayaz Khan, City Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa, Assistant Commissioner Sahitya Aladakatti, civic officials, staff and members of the public participated in the programme.
Published – August 14, 2026 08:30 pm IST
