NEWS – Hon’ble President of India Confers 5th National Water Awards, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

Achievements of Awardees:

• Odisha (Best State):
  • 53,000 water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures.
  • 10,800 reuse and recharge structures.
  • 21,000 wastewater treatment plants.
• Uttar Pradesh (Second Place):
  • 91 crore households connected with tap water.
  • 133 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
  • 14,679 Amrit Sarovars developed.
• District Winners:
  • Banda (Uttar Pradesh): Rejuvenated 400 ponds, built 530 farm ponds.
  • Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Planted 20 lakh saplings, constructed 420 farm ponds.
  • Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): Restored 33 water bodies, built 2,400 artificial recharge structures.
  • Ganderbal (J&K): Maintained 400 km of canals, lined 1.35 km of canals to prevent water wastage.

Prominent Winners in Other Categories:

• Best Urban Local Body: Surat, Gujarat.
• Best Village Panchayat: Pullampara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Best Civil Society: BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune.
• Best Water User Association: Pentakli Project Union of Water User Association, Buldhana, Maharashtra.
• Best School/College: Upper Primary School, Jethwan Ka Bas, Sikar, Rajasthan.
• Best Institution: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
• Best Industry: Aravali Power Company Private Limited, Jhajjar, Haryana.

NATIONAL WATER AWARDS (NWA) 

• By: Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Launched: First initiated in 2007 alongside the Ground Water Augmentation Awards.

Award Recognition:

• Components: Winners receive a citation, trophy, and cash prize (in certain categories).
• Purpose: Recognition of commendable work in water conservation and management.

Objectives:

• Encouragement: Motivate individuals and organizations working in water conservation.
• Awareness: Promote the importance of water and encourage best water usage practices.