Lucknow: During the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu praised UP's efforts in providing tap water to every household and its innovative experiments in water conservation.
Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil also commended UP's work in providing household tap connections and water conservation efforts in the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions.
Outlining the work done in UP, a govt spokesperson said that Dr Balakar Singh, the then managing director of Jal Nigam (rural) UP, who was also present to receive the award, implemented several innovative measures for water conservation and management, significantly benefiting farmers by improving irrigation facilities.To enhance irrigation infrastructure, over 6,000 check dams and 1,000 ponds were constructed.He added that major advancements in rainwater harvesting were made, with structures constructed in 31,360 govt buildings. Another 27,368 traditional water bodies were restored, and 17,279 Amrit Sarovars were built. As a result, five blocks in the state were removed from the over-exploited and critical categories between 2022 and 2023, and the groundwater level improved in 34 cities.
"The state also made strides in wastewater management, constructing 133 sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 4,100 MLD to reduce pollution in the Ganga river," he said.