Having already conquered the Mt. Everest in 2013, Ravindra Kumar, an IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, will undertake yet another mission to scale the peak this summer with the aim to spread awareness amongst people towards the urgent need of controlling water pollution, saving rivers and Ground Water Acquifers besides ensuring availability of Clean Water to All.
Kumar told The Pioneer he has termed his expedition as "Swachchh Ganga Swachchh Bharat Everest Abhiyaan 2019" with Ganga symbolising all rivers of India as one of the main sources of water.
Kumar is the first and only IAS officer of India who has climbed Mt. Everest. Ravindra Kumar is presently on a Central deputation Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Begusarai (Bihar) born Ravindra Kumar has also authored two motivational books on his previous journey.
His first scaling of the Everest was inspired by the Sikkim Earthquake of 2011, where mountaineers were called for search and rescue mission post earthquake in the State.
His second Everest Expedition in 2015 could not be completed due to the earthquake in Nepal. That mission to spread awareness about importance of Sanitation in India through 'Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan' was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"In the present scenario, focus on water sector, especially drinking water, is need of the hour. As per World Bank estimates 21 per cent of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water. Rivers are nearly dying due to discharge of pollutants and lack of continuity due insufficient water. Ground water table is declining and creating ground for future water crisis. Therefore, this sector needs immediate through people's involvement in addition to Government's effort," said Kumar.