Odisha has won the Best State award at the 5th National Water Awards 2023.Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil announced the winners of the 5th National Water Awards 2023 at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi. The award aims to recognize and inspire individuals and organizations making outstanding contributions to water conservation and water management in India.The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced 38 winners in 09 categories, including joint winners. The award ceremony will be held on 22 October 2024 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
National Water Awards
- The National Water Awards was instituted by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The award was instituted to create awareness among the people about the importance of water and to adopt the best water usage practices.
- The first Prize was given in 2018, and thereafter, it was given in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
5th National Water Award Winners 2023
The award is given in 9 categories, and 38 winners have been selected for the 2023 edition.
Best State Category
- Odisha
- Uttar Pradesh
- Puducherry and Gujarat
Best District Category
- South Zone – Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh),
- North East Zone-Dhalai (Tripura),
- North Zone- Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir), Banda (Uttar Pradesh)
- West Zone- Indore(Madhya Pradesh),
- East Zone -Bolangir(Odisha)
Best Village Panchayat Category
- Pullampara(Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala
- Masulpani, (Kanker), Chhattisgarh,
- Hampapuram (Anantapur), Andhra Pradesh and Khliehrangnah (West Jaintia Hills), Meghalaya
Best Urban Local Body Category
- Surat,( Gujarat)
- Puri,(Odisha)
- Pune, (Maharashtra)
Best School or College Category
- Government Upper Primary School, (Jethwan ka Bas), Sikar, Rajasthan
- Government Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya, (Paschim Vihar), New Delhi
- Khairbani Ashram School, (Baisinga), Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Best Industry Category
- Aravali Power Company Private Limited, (Jhajjar), Haryana
- Apollo Tyres Limited, (Kanchipuram), Tamil Nadu
- Raymond Uco Denim Pvt Ltd, (Yavatmal), Maharashtra
Best Water User Association Category
- Pentakli Project Union of Water User Association,(Buldhana), Maharashtra
- Water User Cooperative Society, Kagekodamagge, (Shivamogga), Karnataka
- Parambur Big Tank Water User Association, (Pudukkotai), Tamil Nadu
Best Institution (other than School/College)
- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Koner Laksmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Sri Tirumala Nagar Resident Welfare Association, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (jointly)
Best Civil Society Category
- BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune
- Yuva Mitra, Mitrangan Campus, Nashik, Maharashtra
- Gramin Vikas Trust, Kanchan Kunj, Dahod, Gujarat