Uttar Pradesh gets 1st prize in Third National Water Awards

Third National Water Awards – In the best state category of the Third National Water Awards-2020, Uttar Pradesh took first place, followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. 
 
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, today announced the 3rd National Water Awards-2020. Uttar Pradesh took first place in the Best State category, followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, according to a release from the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 
 
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) programme, worth $3.6 trillion, promises to offer guaranteed tap water supply, or ‘Har Ghar Jal,’ to all rural families by 2024, with several states pledging to give tap water connections to all rural homes before that date. 
 
The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, is awarding 57 awards to States, Organizations, Individuals, and other entities in 11 categories – Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Media (Print & Electronic), Best School, Best Institution/RWA/Religious Organization. 
 
Since the commencement of the JJM in August 2019, around 5.53 crore rural homes have been connected to running water. Shri Shekhawat, speaking at the event, remarked that water is essential to life. The present water demand in India is predicted to be over 1,100 billion cubic metres per year, with the need expected to rise to 1,447 billion cubic metres by 2050, according to the statement. 
 
Shri Shekhawat, speaking at the event, remarked that water is essential to life. The present water demand in India is predicted to be over 1,100 billion cubic metres per year, with the need expected to rise to 1,447 billion cubic metres by 2050, according to the statement. 
 
The government established a new ministry, Jal Shakti, in July 2019 to deal with all water issues in the country. The Jal Shakti ministry was created by combining it with other existing ministries like water resources and drinking water and sanitation. 
 
Water is a vital resource for India, which has one of the world’s fastest developing economies. While India has almost 18% of the world’s population, it only has 4% of the world’s renewable water resources, according to the statement. 
 
Given the importance of surface and ground water in the water cycle, the Union Minister stated that it was thought important to establish a unified National Water Award with the goal of encouraging stakeholders to embrace a holistic approach to water resource management in the country. “It also aims to raise public awareness about the importance of water and to encourage individuals to adopt best water-use practises,” the minister added in the statement. 

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