Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Sekhawat said that water conservation along with water-harvesting and judicious and multiple use of water are key to tackle the water challenge in India. Speaking after giving away the National Water Mission Awards-2019 here, the Minister said that Jal-Andolan should become a true Jan-Andolan as exhorted by the Prime Minister to tide over the water scarcity in India. He also lamented the fact that only 4 percent of CSR obligation is spent on water, while it is around 11 percent for the water-intensive industries and called for a rethink on the issue. Shri Shekhawat also urged the policy planners to take into account the multiple use of water in Agriculture and Industries for the judicious use of scarce resource.
In his address, the Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Rattan Lal Kataria said that cooperation is a must for a sustainable tomorrow and Jal Shakti Ministry is an example in itself of such cooperation. He said that Integrated Water Management is a tool for poverty reduction and sustainable economic development.
NATIONAL WATER MISSION AWARDS, 2019-
NWM,Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has initiated the ‘National Water Mission Awards’ to recognize excellence in water conservation, efficient water use and sustainable water management practices.
NWM has 5 goals and 39 strategies prescribed in the Mission Document. One of the strategies of NWM under Goal IV is to incentivize the organization/ companies through awards for water conservation and efficient use of water. Hence, the NWM has initiated the ‘National Water Mission Awards’ to recognize excellence in water conservation, efficient water use and sustainable water management practices. The awards are given in ten categories defined under five goals of NWM. The categories are as follow:
Comprehensive Water Data Base in Public Domain. Assessment of the impact of Climate Change on Water Resources. Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited area. Increasing Water use efficiency by 20% (Local Individuals/Farmers/Citizens) Increasing Water use efficiency by 20% (Water Users Associations/ Self Help Groups/ Resident Welfare Associations). Increasing Water use efficiency by 20% (Public Agencies –ULBs/Cities, Govt Organisations). Increasing Water use efficiency by 20% (Industries/Corporate). Increasing Water use efficiency by 20% (Small and Medium Enterprises). Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.
The prize money for the awards is:
(i)First - Rs. 2 lakh; (ii) Second - Rs. 1.5 lakh and (iii) Third - Rs. 1 lakh.
The different stages involved in the selection of the Awardees were as follows:
Advertisementswere given in National & Regional Newspapersand on NWM’s website on8th March 2019calling for applications. Last date to receive the applications was 31st May 2019. 140 eligible entries were finalized, after deduplication and rejection of incomplete applications. Screening Committee meetings were held under the Chairmanship of Shri G. Asok Kumar, Mission Director, National Water Mission on 3rd and 14th June 2019 to analyze the applications and to make the presentations to be made to the Jury Committee. Jury Committee meetings were held under the Chairmanship of Shri Shashi Shekhar, Former Secretary, MoWR,RD&GR on 11th June 2019, 11th July 2019 and 31st July 2019 to shortlist the applicationswhich were to be sent forground report and further clarifications. 49 out of 140 applications were shortlisted and sent to CWC and CGWB regional offices for ground report and field verifications. Jury Committee meetings were held on 6th September 2019 and 11th September 2019to finalise the winners of the NWM Water Awards.
The final list of winners decided by the Jury Committee and approved by the Ministry is as follows:
Sl No | Name of the Organisation | Rank |
Category 1A: Comprehensive Water Data Base in Public Domain |
| |
1 | Water Resources Department, Govt of Andhra Pradesh for its Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Information and Management System (APWRIMS) | 1st |
2 | Irrigation and CAD Dept, Govt of Telangana for its Telangana Water Resources Information System (TWRIS) | 2nd |
Category 1B: Assessment of the impact of Climate Change on Water Resource | ||
3 | Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO), Department of Environment, Bhopalfor Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment(CCVA) Study of Madhya Pradesh | 1st |
4 | Water Resources Department, Govt of Andhra Pradesh for its work on Impact of climate change on Water Resources of Andhra Pradesh | 2nd |
Category 2: Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation | ||
5 | Water Resources Department, Govt of Rajasthan for Water Conservation, Augmentation and Preservation at Narmada Canal Project, Sanchore | 1st |
6 | Jalaposhan Trust for its work in Conservation and Preservation of 200 years old Jakkur Lake | 2nd |
7 | Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Govt of Punjab for Utilisation of treated waste water for Irrigation from Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), Phagwara | 3rd |
8 | Pampa Parirakshana Samithy for its efforts on Rejuvenation of Varanchal (flood plain wetland) and Pampa rejuvenation, Kerala | 3rd |
Category 3: Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas | ||
9 | Shivganga Samagra Gramvikas Priashad for its efforts on Water conservation in water stressed tribal district Jhabua | 1st |
10 | Ambuja Cement Foundation for Demand and supply side interventions in three districts: Gir Somnath of Gujarat and Pali & Nagaur districts of Rajasthan. | 2nd |
11 | State Ground Water Department, Govt of Telangana for its work on Users Centred Aquifer Level Groundwater management | 3rd |
Category 4A: Increasing water use efficiency by 20% - (Local Individuals/Farmers/Citizens) | ||
12 | Shri Bapu Bhausaheb Salunke, Aurangabad for doing Water Management at farm level | 1st |
13 | Dr S Sendur Kumaran, KVK Kundrakudi for putting efforts in Increasing water use efficiency through micro-irrigation for vegetables in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu | 2nd |
Category 4B: Increasing water use efficiency by 20% (WUA, SHGs, RWAs) | ||
14 | Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan for Water Conservation and Augmentation work in Sumerpur block of Hamirpur district, Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh | 1st |
Category 4C: Increasing water use efficiency by 20% (Public Agencies - ULBs/Cities, Govt. Organisations etc.) | ||
15 | Department of Telangana Rural Water Supply & Sanitation, Govt of Telangana for its Mission Bhagiratha | 1st |
16 | Water Resources Department, Govt of Rajasthan for its efforts in Increasing Water Use efficiency of Tejpur Minor of Indira Gandhi Nahar Project, Bikaner | 2nd |
17 | Department of Horticulture, Govt of Andra Pradesh for its Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP), Kurnool District | 3rd |
Category 4D: Increasing water use efficiency by 20% (Industries/Corporate) | ||
18 | Hindustan Coca Cola beverages Pvt Ltd, Guntur for Optimising water usage through focused water stewardship efforts in bottling plant | 1st |
19 | Lalitpur Power Generation Company Ltd for its efforts in Water Conservation and Increasing Water Use efficiency | 2nd |
20 | Raymond UCO Denim Pvt LTD for Effective Water & Effluent Management in their unit | 3rd |
Category 5: Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management | ||
21 | Water Resources Department, Government of AndhraPradesh for Integrated Water Resources Management in all the basins present in the State of Andhra Pradesh | 1st |
22 | Water Resources Department, Maharashtra for Integrated Water Resources Management in Upper Godavari Sub-basin using e-Source modelling framework to achieve equitable distribution of water in sub-basin | 2nd |
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