President Droupadi Murmu Confers 5th National Water Awards; Odisha Bags First Prize In State Category

New Delhi:22/10/24: The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the fifth National Water Awards in New Delhi today (October 22, 2024).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that water is a basic necessity and a fundamental human right for every individual. A clean and prosperous society cannot be built without ensuring access to clean water. The unavailability of water and poor sanitation have a greater impact on the health, food security, and livelihood of the underprivileged.

The President said that despite the well-known fact that freshwater resources are available in limited quantities on Earth, we ignore water conservation and management. These resources are getting polluted and depleted due to manmade reasons. She was happy to note that the Government of India has taken many steps to promote water conservation and harvesting.

The President said that water conservation is part of our tradition. Our ancestors used to build ponds near villages and reservoirs in or near temples so that the stored water could be used in case of water shortage. Unfortunately, we are forgetting the wisdom of our ancestors. Some people have encroached upon reservoirs for personal gain. This not only affects water availability during drought but also creates flood-like situations when there is excessive rainfall.

The President stressed the need to remember that conservation and enhancement of water resources is the collective responsibility of all. Without our active participation, it is not possible to build a Water-Secure India. She highlighted that we can make significant contributions through small efforts. For example, we should not leave the taps of our houses open, keep in mind that water does not overflow from the overhead water tank, make water-harvesting arrangements at homes, and collectively renovate traditional water reservoirs.

The President said that the National Water Awards is a commendable step towards promoting relevant approaches and actions towards water resources. She expressed confidence that the “Best Practices” of the awardees would reach the masses through this event.

The National Water Awards aim to create awareness among the people about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt the best water usage practices. The fifth National Water Awards were presented in nine categories – 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.

Our correspondent reports that in the category of Best State, the first prize has been conferred upon Odisha and the second prize to Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat and Puducherry jointly secured the third position. Each award winners were conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.

The National Water Awards focus on the good work and efforts made by individuals and organizations across the country in attaining the government’s vision of a Jal Samridh Bharat.

Talking to OdishaNewstimes, Additional Chief Secretary, of Water Resources of Odisha, Anu Garg said, that lots of water bodies have been created and water harvesting structures have been set up in the state.

Additional Chief Secretary, Drinking Water, Uttar Pradesh, Anurag Srivastav said, the state government has provided drinking water to 84 percent of rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

In the best schools category, the Government Upper Primary School in Sikar, Rajasthan received the first prize. Talking to Akashwani News, the Principal of the school Hariram Kulhari said, that in the last year, lots of work has been done regarding water harvesting.