President Droupadi Murmu Honors District with National Water Award and Community Participation Award at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
Published on: November 18, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: New Delhi/Rajnandgaon, India
Rajnandgaon district witnessed an extraordinary moment of pride today as it was honored with two major national recognitions under the National Water Mission Programme. In a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the district for its exemplary performance in water conservation and community-driven initiatives.
Rajnandgaon was declared the Best District (East Zone) in the National Water Awards organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The district earned this distinction after a rigorous multi-stage evaluation, inspection, and assessment process. The award was received by District Collector Shri Jitendra Yadav and CEO, Zila Panchayat Ms. Suruchi Singh.
₹2 Crore Award for Community Participation and Water Conservation
In the same ceremony, Rajnandgaon, along with other districts of Chhattisgarh, was also conferred the Community Participation Award for Water Conservation, carrying a prize amount of ₹2 crore. This honor reflects the success of Mission Jal Raksha, launched in 2022, which empowered citizens, women’s groups, NGOs, industrial stakeholders, and elected representatives to participate actively in water security efforts.
According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), three development blocks of the district fall under the semi-critical zone in terms of groundwater levels. With 85% of groundwater used for irrigation, 13% for domestic consumption, and 2% for industrial purposes, the district faced growing concerns over depleting water tables.
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To tackle this, the district launched a comprehensive strategy under Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain (Mor Gaon Mor Pani) and strengthened the initiative through Mission Jal Raksha – Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti, ensuring significant participation of women—over 70% in key interventions.
Innovations in Groundwater Recharge
The district implemented several pioneering techniques for groundwater recharge, including:
- Recharge soft borewells and sand-filter technology to revive defunct borewells
- Injection wells in percolation tanks to directly connect rainwater to the water table
- Construction of new borewells integrated with injection wells
- Recharge structures in hilly terrains and water conservation systems in low-lying areas
- Repair, maintenance, and GIS-based planning for long-term sustainability
CGWB Raipur validated the district’s GIS methodology and provided essential technical training and guidance.
With these achievements, Rajnandgaon has solidified its position as a national model in participatory water conservation and sustainable groundwater management.
