President Droupadi Murmu urged everyone to work together to ensure water availability and security, highlighting that climate change is affecting the water cycle in today’s time. Conferring the 6th National Water Awards 2024 and the first Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards in New Delhi, the President said that the efficient use of water is essential for the country, as its water resources are limited considering the population. She congratulated the awardees for their efforts toward saving water and underscored that no one can survive without it. The President also highlighted that under the water conservation public participation program launched last year, more than 3.5 million groundwater recharge structures have been constructed.
Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna, and Raj Bhushan Choudhary were also present at the event. Awards were presented to 46 winners in ten categories, including Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Institution, Best School, and Best Individual. Maharashtra secured the first position in the Best State category of the 6th National Water Awards for 2024, while Gujarat and Haryana were placed second and third, respectively.
On winning the first prize under the Best State category, the Minister of Water Resources in the Maharashtra Government, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, said that this recognition strengthen state’s resolve to advance water Conservation and Irrigation under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
