Mission Paani Waterthon LIVE Updates: Akshay Kumar Tries to 'Feel Plight of Those Walking Miles for Water', Takes to Treadmill on Stage

Akshay Kumar, who is going to walk 21 kms on the treadmill today, has completed 12.5 kms so far.

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana and WaterAid India Director Vikas Kataria join Akshay Kumar and Cyrus Broacha on stage.

Listen to the Mission Paani anthem produced by music maestro AR Rahman and lyricist Prasoon Joshi.

Speaking on 'Mission Paani's Waterthon'- a Network 18 initiative, Anand said the country needs to act fast in order to counter the water crisis. He cited the example of Chennai--where he resides, which saw flood and drought in consecutive years. He said the country can't react to the water crisis and it is time to respond.

Folk Singer Malini Awasthi talks about old times and how our culture has always promoted conservation of water. She performs one of her songs on the importance of water. Praising Akshay Kumar for his efforts she says, "Artists should always work for social change as their influence is huge on the public."

Mission Paani kicked off to a start on Wednesday with Union Ministers and celebrities coming together along with water warriors to take a pledge to save water.

Bollywood actor Dia Mirza, an old water warrior, joins us today for the Mission Paani Waterthon.

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari cites the example of the Buldhana model of water conservation in Maharashtra. He talks about how it has helped solve the problems related to water in 152 villages. "It helped us get soil for highway construction and conservation, free of charge.  This model can be adopted throughout the country.  This will definitely help solve the troubles  of parched areas like Vidharba."

Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal speaks on the need to teach the children the importance of environment and water conservation.

Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand joins News18 and Harpic India's mission to save water. "We have to respond to India's water crisis now. It's already happening. We can't wait for things to completely fall apart," he says.

"We have to respond to India's water crisis now - it's already happening. We can't wait for things to completely fall apart," says chess champion Viswanathan Anand, @vishy64theking.#MissionPaani #MeriJalPratigya @harpic_indiahttps://t.co/golU4nE0Bp pic.twitter.com/GFeS47uqd8

— News18.com (@news18dotcom) January 26, 2021

Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India, says, "We need to make people & children understand that water is a precious element."

We need to make people & children understand that water is a precious element: Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India @harpic_india | #MeriJalPratigya

Join Waterthon with @KishoreAjwani, @akshaykumar, @AnchorAnandN & @Broacha_Cyrus pic.twitter.com/zw5cf59uMx

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 26, 2021

Sportspersons Should Take the Lead: Rijiju | Sports Minister Karan Rijiju says, "Youth and athletes can act as influencers. In my state, I encourage sportspersons to participate in social work along with focusing on winning medals."

Akshay Kumar presents News18's 'Water Warrior' award to Abid Surti, Rajshri Deshpande and Amla Ruia.

Social Activist Amla Ruia, also known as 'Paani Mata' for her work in water harvesting, speaks about the check dams built by her team, which help fill wells and provide water for agriculture in villages of Rajasthan.

Abid Surti, national award winning playwright, cartoonist and environmentalist, says, "1,000 litres of water lost in a month due to a dripping tap. This is what moved him to take up water conservation."

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant says, "Reduce, recycle and reuse water. That is the only way to save water." 

India's folk-rock band Swarathma performs a beautiful song.

.@swarathma captivate the audience with performance of the song 'Pyasi' promoting News18's water campaign. #MissionPaani #MeriJalPratigya @harpic_indiahttps://t.co/golU4nE0Bp pic.twitter.com/3o5pD7NI6b

— News18.com (@news18dotcom) January 26, 2021

Akshay Kumar Walks the Treadmill | Akshay Kumar walks the treadmill as part of the Mission Paani Waterthon. He is walking in solidarity with people, who walk for hours every day in search of water.

Hema and Alka along with little Prachi, who belong to an area a few hours away from Mumbai, join the Mission Paani stage. They speak about their everyday ordeal in fetching water from far away places. "There is no water in our areas after monsoon season. We have to walk to a place 3 hours away from our homes to fetch water. Women of all households have to do this every day. Even children and pregnant women have to carry heavy vessels filled with water."

Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) and @AnchorAnandN talk to two women who walk long distances for water, just a few hours away from Mumbai. #MissionPaani #MeriJalPratigya @harpic_indiahttps://t.co/golU4nE0Bp pic.twitter.com/OHi1QjYD0y

— News18.com (@news18dotcom) January 26, 2021

Hydrotherapy or Aquatherapy is a form of activity performed in water to help with rehabilitation and recovery from hard training or serious injury.

"It is our responsibility to save groundwater, it is also our responsibility to ensure clean drinking water," he says. The health minister talks about the government's 'Water Technology Initiative' and says its aim is to make water available to people across the country using technology.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan joins the Mission Paani Waterthon.

Addressing the issue of water scarcity in various regions in India, Shekhawat says, "Prime Minister Modi has always propagated the idea of limiting the usage of water to its nearby areas of origin. Gaon ka paani gaon mein. Shehar ka paani shehar mein. Khet ka paani kheton me." This will help ensure that there is fair distribution of water and people are not deprived of this crucial resource, he says. 

The Jal Shakti minister talks about how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always stressed on the need for participation of citizens in bringing about social change and lauds the efforts of News18 under Mission Paani.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat joins us for the waterthon today.

Esha Deol, who has vowed to stand behind this vital cause, says she makes sure at the personal level to save water and also teaches her children not to waste this important source of life.

People often claim their rights but tend to forget their duties, says Prasoon Joshi as he calls upon every individual to take up the responsibility towards saving water for the future. "Puchhegi dharti, tab kaha the tum," he quotes a line from the Mission Paani anthem.

Music composer AR Rahman and lyricist Prasoon Joshi address the event. They have produced the anthem of Mission Paani.

Cyrus Broacha joins Akshay Kumar and News18 in the mission to save water.

Harold Van Den Broek, President, Hygiene at Reckitt Benckiser says, "Our children are asking us to preserve water."