New Delhi: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Patil, today unveiled the list of winners for the 5th National Water Awards (NWA) 2023 at an event held at Shram Shakti Bhawan in New Delhi. The awards, which recognize exceptional efforts in water conservation and management, were organized by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
A total of 38 winners were announced across nine categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution (other than school or college), and Best Civil Society. Each winner will receive a citation, a trophy, and cash prizes in select categories.
In the Best State category, Odisha claimed the top spot, followed by Uttar Pradesh in second place, while Gujarat and Puducherry jointly secured third place.
The award ceremony will take place on October 22, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will grace the event as the Chief Guest. The ceremony is expected to recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations working towards sustainable water management practices.
Also present at the announcement were Ministers of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Chowdhary and V Somanna, alongside senior officials including Secretary of DoWR, RD & GR, Devashree Mukherjee, and Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vinni Mahajan.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been at the forefront of raising awareness about water conservation and sustainable management. Since its inception in 2018, the National Water Awards have aimed to motivate communities and stakeholders to adopt best practices in water usage. These awards, first launched by DoWR, RD & GR in 2018, reflect the government’s commitment to achieving a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ (Water Prosperous India).
This year, the 5th NWA received 686 applications, which were evaluated by a Jury Committee. The Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) conducted ground truthing of shortlisted applications to ensure that the initiatives met the required standards. Based on these evaluations, the final winners were selected.
The National Water Awards celebrate the extraordinary efforts of individuals and organizations in tackling one of India’s most pressing challenges—water management. The awards not only recognize excellence but also foster greater public participation and partnership in the conservation of the country’s water resources.