President Droupadi Murmu will present the National Water Awards 2023 on Tuesday, recognising outstanding contributions to water management and conservation across India.
The awards, organised by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, honour efforts in nine categories, ranging from best state to best civil society, according to an official statement.
In the category of Best State, the first prize has been conferred upon Odisha, with Uttar Pradesh securing the second position, and Gujarat and Puducherry jointly securing the third position. Each award winner will be conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.
Odisha has been gaining recognition for its extensive water conservation initiatives such as establishment of approximately 53,000 water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures, along with 10,800 reuse and recharge systems. Additionally, the renovation of 11,000 traditional water bodies, development of 68,700 watersheds, and completion of 21,000 wastewater treatment plants have been achieved.
The renovation of around 1,800 km of drainage channels has reclaimed approximately 39,000 hectares of agricultural land previously affected by waterlogging. Also, over 90,900 hectares of irrigated land have transitioned from conventional irrigation methods to micro-irrigation systems, such as sprinklers and drip irrigation, benefiting about 87,000 farmers.
Second slot in the award category has been acquired by Uttar Pradesh. It has built or rejuvenated 14,679 'Amrit Sarovars' and undertaken extensive rainwater harvesting initiatives in recent years. Puducherry, a joint third prize winner, was recognised for renovating 84 tanks, increasing water storage capacity, and desilting 190 village ponds.
Last year, the Union Territory also provided 1,14,900 households with tap connections and built 850 rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in industries and educational institutions, according to the ministry.
Gujarat, sharing the third spot, was acknowledged for achieving 100 per cent tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, covering 25 lakh households. The state also expanded micro-irrigation coverage, benefitting over 14 lakh farmers.
The Best District awards were presented across various zones, showcasing exceptional efforts in water management and conservation. The winners included Visakhapatnam from Andhra Pradesh in the South zone, Dhalai from Tripura in the North East zone, and Banda from Uttar Pradesh along with Ganderbal from Jammu and Kashmir as joint winners in the North region.
The National Water Awards, initiated in 2018, aim to raise awareness about water conservation and management, aligning with the government's vision of a 'Jal Samridh Bharat' (water-sufficient India), the release said.
