New Delhi, Feb. 25: It was a ‘Maharashtra’ State’s Day in the National Capital. It was adjudged as the ‘Best State’ and was honoured with ten prestigious National Level Awards under 14 Water Conservation and Management categories at the hands of the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, today.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation organized an award ceremony at the Mavlankar Auditorium at Rafi Marg. Present on this occasion were Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Secretary, Shri U.P. Singh. Maharashtra’s Ministers of Water Resources, Shri Girish Mahajan, Water Conservation, Shri Ram Shinde and Labour and Employment and Guardian Minister of Latur District, Shri Sambhaji Nilangekar Patil, Collector of Beed District, Shri M.Devnedra Singh, Collector of Latur, Shri G.Shreekant, Resident Commissioner of Maharashtra Sadan, Shri Samir Sahai and many senior officers of the State were present at this time.
Maharashtra State was given the ‘Best State Award’ under National Water Awards for the Year -2018. The Union Minister, Shri Nitin Gadkari distributed this award. The second State was Gujarat followed by Andhra Pradesh in best state category. Shri Girish Mahajan, Minister for Medical Education, Water Resources and Command Area Development and Shri Ram Shinde, Minister for Water Conservation and Protocol, Maharashtra state received this Award on behalf of the Maharashtra Government.
The Award for the best water regulatory authority was won by Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRA), Pune. The Chairman, MWRA, Shri K.P.Bakshi received this award. A Trophy and a Citation constituted the Award.
Solapur’s Mahud Gram Panchayat –Best Panchayat
Under the Best Village Panchayat category of Award for Water Conservation, the Mahud BK Gram Panchayat of Sangola Taluka of Solapur District bagged the First Award. The Award constituted a Trophy, a Citation and a Cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs.
Under the Best TV show for promoting Water, the Janata Darbar of Doordarshan, Maharashtra bagged the first prize. The award constituted of a trophy, a citation and cash money of Rs 2 lakhs.
First and Second Award Under Best News Paper (Regional)
Under the Best News Paper (Regional) which promoted the importance of water, its conservation and management, the Maharashtra Sinchan Vikas from Pune was awarded the first prize. The award constituted of a trophy, a citation and cash money of Rs 2 lakhs. Under this category, the second prize was also bagged by Maharashtra’s Lokmat Media Private Limited. The award constituted of a trophy, a citation and cash money of Rs 1.5 lakhs.
Award To Latur And Beed Districts
Under the ‘Best District Revival of River’ category, the Latur District won the first prize for the rejuvenation of Manjara River. The Guardian Minister, Shri Sambhaji Nilangekar Patil and the collector, Shri G.Shreekant received this award. The award consisted of a trophy and a citation. Under this category, Maharashtra State bagged the second prize as well. The Sadhbhavna Gramin Vikas Sanstha, Wardha District bagged the second Prize. District Collector, Shri Shailesh Naval and President Shri Milind Bhagat received a citation and a trophy.
Under the Best school award category, the SC Girls Government Residential School, Jau from Nilanga Taluka of Latur District received the second award. The award constituted of a trophy, a citation and cash money of Rs 1.5 lakhs.
A separate category of aspirational district was instituted to focus on water management in these areas. Under the category of Aspirational Districts striving towards the water conservation and water management programmes, the Beed District of Maharashtra received the first prize under the West Zone followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Under Ground Water Recharge award category, first award under the West Zone were given to the Ahmednagar District. The award constituted of a trophy and a citation.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Gadkari said that India does not have a shortage of water; rather, the management of water is not adequate. He said that a need to institute national level water awards spanning all sectors has been strongly felt to encourage people to play their respective roles in conservation of water. Shri Gadkari said that a new vision for entire water resource sector is required and National Water Awards is a good step in this direction.
Shri Gadkari sought people’s participation in making the issue of water conservation a public movement. He also acknowledged that groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of water bodies etc. are great challenges. The awards were distributed for outstanding work done in the creation of water bodies and rejuvenation.
In total, the prizes were distributed in 14 categories including best district in six zones (with 3 sub-categories of best district in groundwater recharge, revival of river and creation of water bodies), best state (normal/special), best village panchayat, best municipal corporation, best research/innovation/adaptation of new technology for water conservation, best mass awareness campaign, best TV show for promoting water conservation, best newspaper in Hindi/English/Regional language, best school, best institution for successful campus water usage, best RWA, best organization for religious/recreational & tourism water uses, best industry for industrial water conservation and best water regulatory authority. The prizes include a trophy and citation in all categories. Cash prizes of Rs. 2 lakh, Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 1 lakh for Ist, IInd and IIIrd prize winners respectively were given in some categories.
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