Gujarat Awarded for Excellence in Water Management

Gandhinagar : Ensuring that pure water reaches every corner of Gujarat has been a top priority for the state government. This commitment was recognized at the ‘National Water Award’ ceremony held in New Delhi, where President  Droupadi Murmu honoured Gujarat and Puducherry for achieving third place in the Excellent State category. 

The assessment and ground verification conducted by the Central Water Commission determined the rankings, with Odisha securing the first position and Uttar Pradesh in second place. Gujarat and Puducherry achieved third position in the Excellent State category. 

P.C. Vyas, Secretary of the Water Resources Department of the Government of Gujarat, received the award from the President Droupadi Murmu at the ‘National Water Award’ ceremony, held in New Delhi. In the presence of Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil.

 Significant steps taken by Gujarat for efficient water management

As part of the ‘Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan’, over 5,000 water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures have been implemented in urban and rural areas. Additionally, approximately ₹800 crore has been invested in various water conservation programs.

 Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Gujarat has expanded micro-irrigation systems to cover 2.8 lakh hectares of agricultural land, significantly boosting irrigation capacity. An allocation of ₹500 crore has been made specifically for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems under this scheme. Initiatives taken under PMKSY and the Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana have resulted in a 20% reduction in water usage, while also driving a notable increase in agricultural production across the state.

The Government of Gujarat has made a significant investment of ₹1,000 crore towards water capacity technology and farmer training programs. In addition, under a state-led initiative, Water Users Associations have been established in approximately 1,200 villages, with an expenditure of ₹200 crore, aimed at promoting efficient water usage and management practices.

As part of the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, Gujarat has extended water supply management to 90% of rural households, ensuring tap connections at an investment of ₹3,500 crores. The state is on track to achieve 100% household tap connections by 2025. Additionally, under the ‘Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation’ (AMRUT), a budget of ₹2,000 crore has been allocated to achieve 100% water supply coverage in urban areas.

Under Central and State government initiatives, a substantial investment of ₹150 crore has been made to develop 200 groundwater recharge wells in over-exploited zones, aimed at enhancing groundwater management. Additionally, as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, ₹50 crore has been allocated to water purification projects, leading to improved water quality in over 500 villages across the state.

Water from the Narmada River is being supplied for drinking and irrigation throughout Gujarat via the Sardar Sarovar Dam. As part of this initiative, the Gujarat Green Revolution Company (GGRC), a subsidiary of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), is implementing modern irrigation methods to improve water facilities for farmers across the state.