Roots of Odisha Foundation (ROOF) and Odisha Media Info Service Private Ltd organising Konark International Cyclothon on November 29, 2015. Konark International Cyclothon is also known as the Tour-de-Konark is a unique annual event to boast the bicycle culture in the tourist places considering its importance to ecology, economy and to the human health. It is not a cycle race or competition. It is a campaigning to make people aware about their environment, effects of climate change, protection of their ecology and promoting cycling as alternate mode of communication.
Roots of Odisha Foundation and Odisha Media Info Service Private Ltd is hopeful that this Cyclothon will not only increase interest in pro cycling in India, but also promote the health benefits of the cycling. The route from Konark to Puri is about 40 km runs through beautiful marine drive, considered to be one of the best virgin marine drive in world. The entire stretch is surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. The area is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals besides being a largest wintering ground for migratory birds. The eco-system has abundant in resources that sustains the livelihood for many fisher men, farmers and people employed in tourism sector.
Konark International Cyclothon is one of the maiden events in the region by the bicycle enthusiast to showcase our environmental care and concern as well as to boast the local economy that largely depend on the beautiful and diverse marine eco system. According to the World Resource Centre, coastal habitats alone account for approximately 1/3 of all marine biological productivity, and estuarine ecosystems (i.e., salt marshes, seagrasses, mangrove forests) are among the most productive regions on the planet. In addition, other marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, provide food and shelter to the highest levels of marine diversity in the world. It is our planetary duty to care the ecosystem that sustains many lives that coexist alongside the human race.
Over the last decades, many ecological and health conscious citizens across the globe have turn towards bicycling as one of the main option for short distance travel. Thanks to the supportive policy measures in many of these advance countries that boasted the cycle. The Guardan published a news item on 12th November 2014 titled “Europe’s cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs”. The more important fact is that ‘Europe’s cycling industry now employs more people than mining and quarrying and almost twice as many as the steel industry, according to the first comprehensive study of the jobs created by the sector’. This should be a wakeup call for the industries in India and Government to initiate a range of activities to capture the potential for ushering a new sustainable economy.
The rapid urbanization, development of tourism, concern towards health and ecology demands new thinking and innovative measures. Konark International Cyclothon wishes to bring the synergy among the citizen, industry and government to complement the idea of sustainable, productive and healthy living. Roots of Odisha Foundation is planning to bring world’s renowned cyclists, cycling teams, celebrity cycle enthustics and others for the Konark International Cyclothon.
