Steps taken by Union Government to Promote Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting

 Ministry of Jal Shakti

Steps taken by Union Government to Promote Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting

Posted On: 16 MAR 2023 5:56PM by PIB Delhi

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments with the technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes of the Central Government.

National Water Policy inter-alia envisages water conservation and rainwater harvesting. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) inter-alia includes rain water harvesting as one of the project component. Unified Building Bye Laws (UBBL) of Delhi, 2016, Model Building Bye-Laws, 2016 and Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines 2014 contains adequate focus on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures. Central Ground Water Authority’s directions under Section 5 of “The Environment Protection Act, 1986 include mandatory rain water harvesting. States/ UTs have been advised to enable Rural Local Bodies (RLBs)/Panchayats to utilise 15th Finance Commissions grants to take up rain water harvesting in Government buildings like panchayat bhawans, anganwadis, Primary Health Centres etc.

Ministry of Jal Shakti has taken various steps for water conservation and harvesting of water with community participation through different schemes viz. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch The Rain (JSA:CTR), National Perspective Plan, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), monitoring of life storage of reservoirs, performance evaluation and water use efficiency studies of major and medium irrigation projects.

421539484125. trainings, workshops, awards, seminars, water talks, exhibitions, fairs, competitions, webinars etc. for water conservation, water harvesting, water use efficiency and ground water management are also held with active participation of government departments, agencies, panchayats, non-government organisations etc. Department of Rural Development is taking up water conservation works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti had launched the 4th National Water Awards on 30th July 2022 wherein applications had been invited from various stakeholders including any State, District, Village Panchayat, Urban Local Body, Media, School, Institution, Industry, Non-Governmental Organisation or Water User Association who have done good work in the field of water conservation and management. The awards were introduced to recognize and encourage exemplary work and efforts made by States/Districts/Individuals/ Organizations etc. across the country. It aims to sensitize the public about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt the best water usage practices. The objective of the National Water Awards is to encourage the stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach towards water resource management in the country. The award winners in different categories will be presented with a citation, trophy and cash prize. The last date of receipt of applications was 31st October 2022. The details of the awards and criterion/ guidelines for 4th NWAs are Annexed.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri  Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

ANNEXURE

1. Details of Awards:

 

Sl. No.	Category of Award		Eligible Entity		Award	No. of Award
1.	Best State		State Government/ UT		Trophy with Citation	3 Awards
2.	Best District		District Administration/ DM/ DC		Trophy with Citation	3 Awards
3.	Best Village Panchayat		Village Panchayat		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
4.	Best Urban Local Body		Urban Body	Local	Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
5.	Best Media (Print & Electronic)		Newspaper/ Magazine/TV Shows		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
6.	Best School		School		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
7.	Best Institution Campus usage	for	Institution/RWA/ Religious/Higher Education organization		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
8.	Best Industry		Small/ Large Industry	Medium/ Scale	Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
9   .	Best NGO		Registered NGOs		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
10.	Best Water User Association		Water User Association		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh
11.	Best Industry for CSR Activities		Large/ Medium/ Small Industry		Cash Awards & Trophy with Citation	3 Awards: First award: Rs.2 lakh Second award: Rs.1.5 lakh Third award: Rs.1 lakh

2. Criteria for various categories of 4th National Water Awards:-

                  Best State:

Sl No.	Criteria							Marks
1.	Preparation or Revision of State Water Policy document.							5
2.	Follow-up action in implementation of water policy document – Concrete steps and conspicuous impact.							5
3.	Creation Authority.	of	Water	Regulatory Authority and	State	Ground	Water	5
4.	Minor Water Conservation Interventions – Furnish Techno – Physical Details							10
5.	Medium & Major Irrigation ventures – Furnish Project-wise Technical Note. (Performance evaluation and benchmarking will be taken into account for marking)							5
6.	Status of work done under Jal Jeevan Mission And Jal Shakti Abhiyan.							10
7.	Irrigated area transformed from conventional to micro irrigation (Irrigated area of existing projects and that of individual beneficiaries both, exclusively) and Utilization of water thus saved owing to this switch over.							5
8.	Number of active Water User Associations and support provided.							5
9.	New projects with micro irrigation systems.							5
10.	Rehabilitation/Renovation/Restoration of old and existing projects - Enhancement in project efficiency. (Furnish comparison of pre and post authentic data viz:- enhancement in storage, regaining of lost irrigation potential i.e. ICA, restoration of projected irrigation intensity, improvement in feeding tail command, reduction in losses & prodigality etc.)							10
11.	Scientific treatment and restoration of degraded drainage areas targeting conduciveness in natural recharge phenomenon, reviving liveliness of streams and micro conservation etc. (Furnish narrative note elaborating strategy & methodology adhered upon, configuration of interventions, implementation, and provisions to ensure sustainment of interventions etc. duly accompanied with data of achievements.)							10
12.	Treatment and reuse of domestic, commercial sewage and Industrial effluent and its impact on surface water quality.							10
13.	Roof top rain water harvesting, including traditional structures in prevalence in rural India.							5
14.	Management and utilization of data/IT technology in water auditing, water conservation & irrigation management including ground water monitoring & assessment. A narrative note on application of water audit results and conspicuous impact of technological advancement & IT applications etc. inoverall perspective. (Note: This includes urban water management, data management (water) and NHP related activities/progress)							10
	TOTAL MARKS							100

2. Best District:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Efforts made for rejuvenation of rivers, restoration of river banks and preservation of flood plains.	10
2.	Creation of Artificial Recharge Structures and maintenance, upkeep and maintenance of existing recharge system.	10
3.	Water bodies mapped, entered in revenue records and revived in the District.	10
4.	Micro water storage structures created with storage capacity (MST/MIT like structures).	5
5.	Use of Micro Irrigation and area added during the last year.	10
6.	Roof top rain water harvesting and traditional rain water harvesting structures in numbers and storage capacity along with functional status and water use details. Efforts made to capture data of water conservation structures created by private individuals/entities.	10
7.	Measures adopted for Springshed Management for maintenance of the water quality of the springs/ ground water resources.	5
8.	Pollution abatement steps, including recycle and reuse of waste water. Efforts made to be duly substantiated with data.	10
9.	Removal of encroachments and illegal infringements in catchment vis-a- vis waterways (like sand mining, etc). Furnish details and positive impacts thereof.	10
10.	Number of trees planted, and maintenance mechanism for survival for trees.	5
11.	Mass sensitization and capacity building in water conservation and management, including water budgeting. Furnish details of activities and impact thereof.	5
12.	Leadership and innovation exhibited by the District Administration to involve community in the activities mentioned 1-11 above.	10
	Total Marks	100

3.     Best Village Panchayat:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Number of water bodies revived with community participation.	20
2.	Innovative practices for enhancing ground water Furnish data & documents to substantiate.	10
3.	Number of new water conservation structures and their storage capacity.	10
4.	Community mobilization for adopting of water efficient cropping pattern, and efficient water management practices, and results thereof.	20
5.	Water Shed development activities (contour bunding/trenching), and tree plantation.	10
6.	Number of new ponds created and capacity in Cum., and mechanism for sustainment of creations.	20
7.	Mass sensitization and capacity building in water conservation and management, including water budgeting. Furnish details of activities and impact thereof.	10
	Total Marks	100

 

4. Best Urban Local Body (ULB):

 

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Performance of the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) in Water Supply & Distribution against the prescribed Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs) viz. Coverage & extent of metering of water connections, and continuity of water supply, Per capita supply of water, Extent of Non-revenue Water (NRW) (including leakages/losses), Quality of water supplied (meeting the BIS-10500 drinking water quality norms), Cost recovery in water supply services; Efficiency in collection of water supply charges, Water audits conducted (frequency of audits & performance report) & efficiency in redressal of customer complaints, O&M and Use of IT based intervention for performance enhancement in water supply & distribution.	40
2.	Performance of the ULB in Sewerage Management against the prescribed Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs) viz. Coverage of toilets & sewage network as well as collection efficiency of the sewage network, Adequacy of sewage treatment capacity and quality of sewage treatment (against norms), Extent of reuse and recycling of sewage, Efficiency in collection of sewage charges, Extent of cost recovery in sewage management and redressal of customer complaints.	30
3.	Water conservation interventions undertaken viz. Roof top Rain Water Harvesting structures and storage capacity created, (Number of structures erected/created and practical state of functioning and associated impacts), Revival of traditional water bodies/ponds/lakes/springs/others, (Practical achievements in terms of number of interventions/area revived/ capacity created/communities benefited/sustainability/other associated benefits), Innovative interventions for ground water recharge/replenishment undertaken, (Practical achievements in terms of no. of interventions/quantum of water recharged/increase in GW level/other associated benefits), Tree plantation activities carried out by ULB.	20
4.	Leadership exhibited by the ULB Administration to involve community in all aspects of improving water conservation and mass sensitization & public awareness programs and capacity building of the staff. (Furnish details of activities and impact thereof)	10
	Total Marks	100

 

5. Best Media (Print and Electronic):

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Number of meaningful articles published or programmed aired on water conservation and management.	25
2.	Content related to water issues.	25
3.	Circulation of the newspaper & magazine/ reach of electronic media.	25
4.	Positive impact & consequences of reporting.	25
	Total Marks	100

 

6. Best School:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Presence of a water action plan with well-defined and achievable targets.	15
2.	Setting up a water collection system (roof-top and pits etc.) to gather rain water for watering plants and other non-potable uses.	15
3.	Number of trees planted in the school premises and outside.	15
4.	Install low-flow water saving devices in washrooms and campus.	10
5.	Number of Painting, Essay and Debate competitions organized to promote water conservation and management activities.	25
6.	Number of innovative works and activities done (not covered in other criteria) to promote water conservation and management activities.	10
7.	Voluntary work done by the school students outside their school for water conservation and management activities.	10
	Total Marks	100

 

7.    Best Institution for Campus usage:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Number of Roof top rain water harvesting structures created in numbers and storage capacity and functional status and how water was used. Furnish complete details.	15
2.	Quantity of water saved by implementing water conservation and management activities  (other than roof-top RWHS). Furnish details.	15
3.	Number of awareness activities for water conservation and management and its conspicuous impact.	15
4.	Efforts made for cleaning water bodies/storages. Furnish details.	15
5.	Number of trees planted and survived and mechanism for ward, watering & upkeep of plants.	15
6.	Achievements in the context of liquid sewage collection, transmission, treatment, recycle and reuse duly substantiated with data.	15
7.	Any other innovative/unique work done on water conservation and management.	10
	Total Marks	100

8. Best Industry:

Sl. No.	Criteria								Marks
1.	Corporate commitment to water efficiency - Designate a water efficiency coordinator, Develop a mission statement and a plan, Educate and involve employees in water efficiency efforts, awards given in your company for identifying and innovative solutions to reduce water consumption.								15
2.	Water Audit and setting targets for future.								15
3.	Installation of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, appliances and other equipment yielding substantial savings on water.								15
4.	Installing and maintaining ETP (effluent treatment plant) and STP (sewage treatment plant) in industry area to treat waste water and its reuse. (Achieving the zero liquid discharge mandates).								15
5.	Installation of water treatment (other than ETP/STP) mechanisms like Reverse Osmosis and other relevant treatment mechanisms.								15
6.	Efforts in saving of non-processed water.								15
7.	Narrate any other industry/innovations.	implemented	ways	of	saving	water	in	your	10
	Total Marks								100

9.   Best NGO:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Details of work done in the areas of water conservation and management. Furnish exhaustive note to substantiate claim/version along with resources mobilizing details.	20
2.	Innovative/Unique technologies adopted/implemented Research and Development efforts made. Furnish complete details on techno-economic viability and adoption feasibility etc. complete.	20
3.	Water bodies revived with data of additional storage created and its use with details of beneficiaries.	10
4.	Micro water storage structures created with storage capacity with water use strategy.	10
5.	Roof top rain water harvesting and traditional rain water harvesting structures in numbers and storage capacity in Cum.	10
6.	Recorded benefits of water harvested from Roof top duly substantiated with requisite data.	10
7.	Awareness campaigns done resulting in mass participation. Details thereof	10
8.	Any Capacity building done and the conspicuous impacts thereof. (Sustainability of work done (after project period).	10
	Total Marks	100

 

10.               Best Water User Association:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	Number of members. Furnish tree chart and details of configuration.	10
2.	Area under Agriculture, CCA, ICA, Irrigation intensity.	10
3.	Water supplied to meter and levy collected.	10
4.	Upkeep and Maintenance of infrastructure.	10
5.	Water use efficiency achieved.	10
6.	Uniformity and parity of distribution in the regime of WUA.	10
7.	Adoption of Micro Irrigation.	15
8.	Cognizance to soil health card.	10
9.	Adherence to recommended/stipulated cropping pattern according to water availability.	10
10.	Exercising checks on prodigality coupled with recycle and reuse of waste water.	5
	Total Marks	100

 

11. Best Industry for CSR Activities:

Sl. No.	Criteria	Marks
1.	CSR amount spent in the last one year on water conservation and management, give percentage share of TOTAL CSR provision. Furnish details of financial & other resources contribution in monetary terms to other institutions and amount spent by industry itself on water conservation interventions.	30
2.	Types and details of activities implemented in water conservation and management under CSR in the last one year.	20
3.	Number of people benefitted with the activities implemented under CSR in the last one year.	20
4.	Any innovative technology promoted under CSR in the last one year.	10
5.	Any capacity building effort for community done under CSR in the last one year.	10
6.	Any other impacts/outcomes of the activities taken up under CSR in the last one year.	10
	Total Marks	100

 

*****