Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble President, Smt Droupadi Murmu appreciated the award winners asserting that their contribution towards water conservation and management is extraordinary and will set an example for the coming generations towards the development of the nation. Hon’ble President appreciated the schemes being undertaken by Ministry of Jal Shakti , especially mentioning about the highly effective execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission which exemplifies the objectives of quantity, quality and continuity and asserted that access to safe drinking water is right of every citizen. The president stated that the collective efforts of general public and Government could help achieve the goal of “water secure India” and vouched for every house of country to have a Rain Water Harvesting Structure (RWHS). She lauded the efforts of the water awardees and stated that the recognition of these efforts through National water awards will encourage the masses to take up water conservation activities.
The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil expressed gratitude toward the award winners for their efforts in the field of water management and conservation and said that these Awards have made a deep impact and fostered a healthy competitive environment among those working in the water sector. Shri Paatil congratulated the states of Odisha for winning the first prize in best State category as well as for the second position by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and Puducherry for winning the third position jointly. He said that the way these states has worked from the point of view of water management, it will certainly serve as an inspiration for many states and institutions. Hon’ble Minister also focused on the National water awards as recognition of the good work and efforts made by various stake holders across the country in attaining the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.
The Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Smt Vini Mahajan in her speech mentioned that water is foundation of our life and Ministry of Jal Shakti is focused on water conservation and management in collaboration with the public to turn it into a Jan Andolan. She highlighted the schemes being undertaken by Ministry of Jal Shakti mentioning the achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission, Namame Gange, Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, and Atal Bhujal Yojana.
The Secretary, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Smt Debashree Mukherjee in her concluding remarks gave with a vote of thanks to the Hon’ble President of India for inaugurating the event and encouraging the national water awardees and mentioned that the 6th National water awards, 2024 are to be launched shortly and urged the media as well as other participants to encourage participation in the water awards on a large scale.
The book titled “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Best Practices” was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and dignitaries at the dais. The book highlights the Best practices of water conservation undertaken by various stakeholders under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
During the award distribution ceremony, the works undertaken by the awardees were highlighted. Odisha state, the first winner in the state category, has made exemplary strides in water conservation by creating about 53,000 water conservation & rain water harvesting structures, 10,800 reuse & recharge structures, 68,700 watershed development and 21,000 waste water treatment plants as well as renovating 11,000 traditional water bodies. Uttar Pradesh, the second winner in the state category, under Jal Jeevan Mission over 1.91 crore households constituting 72.78% of the total rural houses in UP have been provided with tap water. Besides, 133 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), & 06 Ganga Biodiversity Parks for cleaning Ganga river & 14,679 Amrit Sarovars have been completed.
Winners in best District category, BANDA (UTTAR PRADESH) from North Zone (joint winner)- around 400 ponds rejuvenated, 3,300 farm bunds & 530 farm ponds, 250 rooftop rainwater harvesting structure, 4,690 soak pits, and 460 check dams constructed. GANDERBAL (J&K) from north zone (joint winner) – maintenance works of about 400 km of canals, and lining of 1.35 km of canals to prevent water wastage completed. INDORE (MADHYA PRADESH) from west zone constructed – 420 farm ponds, 180 percolation tanks, 100 Nistari tanks, and 190 Check dams have been constructed. 20 lakh saplings during Hariyali Mahotsav have been planted. Under Mission Amrit Sarovar, 103 water bodies have been renovated. VISAKHAPATNAM (ANDHRA PRADESH) from south zone – 33 water bodies under Amrit Sarovar scheme & about 2,400 various artificial recharge structures as well as riverbanks on Sarada river have been renovated/restored. BALANGIR (ODISHA) from EAST ZONE – around 260 farm ponds, 170 check dams, 160 diversion weirs, 1,320 water harvesting structures, 460 percolation tanks & 670 groundwater recharge structures have been constructed. DHALAI (TRIPURA) from North East zone- about 740 community recharge structures, 60 ponds, 170 check dams and 137 water tanks for rainwater harvesting have been constructed.
Other prominent winners in various categories include Surat, Gujarat in best urban local body, Pullampara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in best village panchayat, BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune in best civil society, Pentakli Project Union of Water User Association, Buldhana, Maharashtra in best water user association, and Govt. Upper Primary School, Jethwan Ka Bas, Sikar, Rajasthan in best school/college, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in Best Institution and Aravali Power Company Private Limited, Jhajjar, Haryana in best industry.
