TFP Bureau, Raipur, November 18, 2025: Chhattisgarh has secured a prominent place on the national stage with 12 of its districts receiving honours at the 6th National Water Awards and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0 Awards held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. President Draupadi Murmu presented the awards, recognising the state’s remarkable achievements in water conservation and large-scale community participation.
The honoured districts include Raipur, Gariaband, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Dhamtari, Balod, Balrampur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Durg, and Surajpur. These districts were acknowledged for implementing water conservation projects that have significantly strengthened groundwater resources, expanded water storage capacity, and mobilised public involvement at an unprecedented scale.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the achievement, stating that the awards reflect Chhattisgarh’s sensitive administrative approach and the state’s commitment to sustainable water management. He said the recognition would serve as an inspiration to protect the state’s water future and further promote responsible water use among citizens.
Raipur district earned distinction for its exemplary Water Conservation Public Participation Campaign. The Raipur Municipal Corporation secured first place among all municipal corporations in the country, while the district ranked third in the Eastern Zone Category 1. A combined total of over 69,000 water conservation works were completed through joint efforts of the corporation and district administration.
Balod district secured first place in Category 1 and received an incentive of ₹2 crore after constructing 92,742 new water structures. Rajnandgaon district was awarded second place in the same category and received an incentive of ₹2 crore for completing 58,967 water conservation projects with public participation.
In Category 2, Mahasamund district secured first place for constructing 35,182 water structures. Balodabazar-Bhatapara placed second in this category, receiving ₹1 crore in incentive funds for completing 21,058 water conservation works.
Several districts achieved notable rankings in Category 3. Durg secured 16th position with 5,010 completed projects, Balrampur ranked 6th with 8,644 structures, Dhamtari 8th with 7,674 structures, Raigarh 2nd with 19,088 projects, and Surajpur 12th with 5,797 completed works. Each of these districts received an incentive of ₹25 lakh.
Officials noted that the awards reflect the success of Chhattisgarh’s integrated approach to water management, combining government initiatives with widespread community mobilisation. The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to further expanding water conservation programmes to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.
