PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS SIXTH NATIONAL WATER AWARDS AND JAL SANCHAY-JAN BHAGIDARI AWARDS

Droupadi Murmu presented the sixth National Water Awards and Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Awards at a function held in New Delhi  November 18, 2025.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the story of human civilization is the story of groups settling in river valleys, along seashores, and around various water sources. In our tradition, rivers, lakes, and other water sources are revered. In our national song, the first word Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote is Sujalam. This means “blessed with abundant water resources.” This fact reflects the priority of water for our country.

The President said that efficient water use is a global imperative. Efficient water use is even more crucial for our country because our water resources are limited compared to the population. Per capita water availability is a major challenge. She underlined that climate change is affecting the water cycle. In such circumstances, the government and the public should work together to ensure water availability and water security.

The President was happy to note that under the Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari initiative launched last year, more than 35 lakh groundwater recharge structures have been constructed.

The President said that by adopting circular water economy systems, all industries and other stakeholders can make effective use of water resources. She noted that, along with water treatment and recirculation, many industrial units have achieved the target of zero fluid discharge. She stated that such efforts are useful for water management and conservation.