Visakhapatnam-based runner Challa Subramanya Sharma, a 58-year-old chartered civil engineer, completed the 21.1-km Vizag Half Marathon on Sunday as part of his campaign to raise awareness about soil conservation. Deccan Chronicle

Over the past four and a half years, Sharma has run a total of 7,642 km across cities including Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Raipur and Bhubaneswar. His campaign focuses on drawing public attention to the importance of protecting and improving soil health. Deccan Chronicle

Sharma said public discussions frequently focus on air and water pollution, while soil degradation receives comparatively less attention. He highlighted the importance of healthy soil for food production and ecological balance, adding that better soil health can benefit agriculture, water resources and the wider environment. Deccan Chronicle

He believes running events provide an effective platform to spread awareness about soil protection and regeneration. Sharma plans to continue participating in running events across the country to promote soil conservation and sustainable environmental practices.