Jammu, Juen 17 : In recognition of the significant strides made by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to promote water conservation and proper management of water in the category of ‘Best Institution for Campus Usage’, bagged in a row the First Prize for the third time in the Fourth ‘National Water Awards-2023′, thereby securing a hat-trick.
The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar conferred the 4th National Water Awards on Saturday at an award distribution ceremony being organised at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD and GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. A total of 41 winners including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, covering 11 categories from various states across the country selected on the basis of their work.
National Water Awards (NWA) have been instituted to recognize and encourage exemplary work and efforts made by States, Districts, individuals, organizations, etc across the country in attaining the vision of a ‘Jal Samriddh Bharat’.
Besides, it seeks to create awareness among people about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt best water use practices.
The prestigious award was received on behalf of the Shrine Board by Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board who thanked the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for recognising the work done by the Shrine Board for water conservation and proper water management successively for the third time, adding that this award will encourage and motivate Shrine Board for continuing in its endeavour to adopt and promote best water usage practices also in future.
The Shrine Board besides making concerted efforts to provide the best possible facilities to the pilgrims under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, JK UT, inter alia, taking continuing initiatives and adopting best water management practices and techniques for water conservation.
These include the construction of water harvesting ponds, afforestation drives in Trikuta Hills, installation of Water ATMs, recycling of sewage treatment plants, water for reuse in flushing of toilet blocks, installation of waterless urinals and rooftop rainwater harvesting etc. In addition, the Shrine Board has been planting more than 1.50 lakh seedlings every year in the forest area for retention of water and prevention of soil erosion.
Banganga river rejuvenation also remained a focus area for Shrine Board wherein water management and environment management are taken together for implementation to restore the lost ecology of the polluted stretches of the river by construction of drainage with sewer network system with interceptor chambers to divert polluted water.
Noteworthy, that the Shrine Board has been awarded consecutively for the past many years in recognition of its initiatives taken in varied spheres.
This included the ‘Best Swachh Iconic Place’ award under the initiative of Swachh Bharat Mission of Government of India in 2019, while in 2017 the Board received the ‘Special Swachh Iconic Place’ award under Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign of the Government of India.
In 2018, the board was awarded the Cleanest Religious Place award by the India Today Group and bagged the First Prize in the 2nd and 3rd ‘National Water Awards’ in the category of ‘Best Institution/ Resident Welfare Association/ Religious Organisation for Successful Campus Usage’.
Earlier this year, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was also felicitated at the Jal Prahari Samman Samaroh–2023 held in the month of April at New Delhi.
