The ‘Nirmal Bharat Yatra’ to promote the message of making the country open defecation-free and ensuring proper sanitation in rural areas will begin from October 3, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

Accompanied by actor Vidya Balan, the brand ambassador of the Ministry’s campaign for improving sanitation, Mr. Ramesh said the 2,000-km yatra will rope in people from all sections, including school children, to pass on the message.

Wet Runs: There are 32 ongoing water projects with private sector participation, as also 22 hydro power projects with private participation. Some 20 states are undertaking water sector reforms.
Farm Woe: Net irrigated area in India is 55 mn ha against a net crop area of 142 mn ha.

Fast Dwindling: Forest cover has gone down by 1,409 sq km between 2003 and 2005.