Mumbai: Following the controversy over his alleged removal as brand ambassador for the government of India’s Swachh Bharat mission, actor Aamir Khan is back to partner with the BJP-led Maharashtra government to solve water crisis in Maharashtra.
Mr Khan, along with the team of his TV show has formed Paani Foundation, which will work in association with the state government to solve the water crisis. The announcement for this was made by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of the actor on Wednesday.
“After the TV series, we thought we should take a step forward and focus on one topic till we solve it. Satyajit Bhatkal (director of the show) and I chose water because it’s very important and (we chose) Maharashtra because we were born here. We thought we should begin with this,” Aamir told reporters.
The actor announced the Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, which will work for Maharashtra’s Jal Yukt Shivar scheme — aimed at making state villages drought-free in five years through water conservation programmes. Mr Khan said he would not be the only face of the initiative and planned to rope in Marathi celebrities.
“We are requesting lots of Marathi celebrities, sports people, actors etc to become mentors and take over villages. Just to encourage people.... We want this to become a movement where everybody gets involved. I won’t be the only face,” he said.
The first edition of the cup will be restricted to three districts and within those districts, one taluka each. From western Maharashtra, it will be Koregaon Taluka (Satara), from Vidarbha, it will be Warud Taluka in Amravati district and Ambajogai Taluka from Beed district, Marathwada.
The aim is to communicate and create awareness among people at the grassroots level about water conservation and watershed management.
