National Water Award: Chandigarh bags first rank in the best Urban Local Body

The Ministry of Jalshakti Department of Water Resources, River Department, and Ganga Rejuvenation has adjudicated Municipal Corporation Chandigarh first in the best Urban Local Body (ULB) category of the National Water Award 2022, according to an official release.

Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, shared this achievement on Saturday, stating that the Government of India, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation has declared the 4th National Water Award.

She stated that the Ground Water Augmentation Awards and National Water Awards were established in 2007 with the goal of encouraging all stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organizations, Gram Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies, Water User Associations, Institutions, Corporate Sector, Individuals, and others, to adopt innovative groundwater augmentation practices such as rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge, as well as promoting water use efficiency, recycling, and re-use.

She also stated that practicing groundwater augmentation entails raising awareness through people’s participation in the targeted areas, resulting in the long-term development of groundwater resources, adequate capacity building among stakeholders, and so on, given that surface water and groundwater are both essential components of the water cycle.

“It was felt necessary to institute unified National Water Awards with the objective of encouraging the stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach towards water resources conservation and management in the country,” she added.

She went on to say that the department successfully organized the first National Water Awards (2018), second National Water Awards (2019), and third National Water Awards (2020).

Mitra stated that the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh had participated for the first time in the 4th National Water Award in the category of “Best Urban Local Body,” for which the First Rank ULB would receive a cash award of 2 lakh along with a Trophy and citation.