Tamil Nadu secured four major awards in the 6th National Water Awards 2024, including Best District, Best Village, Best Water Users Association, and Best Industry. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards on November 18, 2025. Full details, analysis, and highlights here.
6th National Water Awards 2024 | 6-வது தேசிய நீர் விருதுகள்
Q. “The National Water Awards play a crucial role in promoting sustainable water management practices across India.”
Explain the significance of the 6th National Water Awards 2024 and critically evaluate Tamil Nadu’s performance in the awards.
Overview of the 6th National Water Awards 2024
The National Water Awards honour outstanding contributions in the field of:
✔ Water conservation
✔ Rainwater harvesting
✔ Groundwater recharge
✔ River rejuvenation
✔ Sustainable water usage
✔ Community-led water management
A total of 10 award categories were included this year, such as Best State, Best District, Best Gram Panchayat, Best Water Users Association, Best Institution, and Best Industry.
🇮🇳 National-Level Winners (Highlights)
🥇 Best State Category
- 1st Place – Maharashtra
- 2nd Place – Gujarat
- 3rd Place – Haryana
These states were recognised for large-scale water saving initiatives, irrigation reforms, and river rejuvenation efforts.
Tamil Nadu’s Achievements: Four Major Awards in 2024
Tamil Nadu stood out nationally by winning four prestigious awards across different categories. This clearly indicates the state’s strong commitment to water conservation and sustainable utilization.
1️⃣ Best District (Water Management) – Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli district won for its:
- Extensive tank restoration programmes
- Improvement of local irrigation systems
- Strong groundwater recharge measures
- Community participation in waterbody revival
Tirunelveli continues to set an example in integrated water resource management.
2️⃣ Best Village (Gram Panchayat Category) – Palabaram, Thiruvallur
Palabaram village was recognised for:
- Reviving traditional ponds and tanks
- Community-driven water conservation
- Effective implementation of rainwater harvesting systems
- Sustainable usage of groundwater
This award showcases how rural communities can lead powerful water conservation models.
3️⃣ Best Water Users Association – Vettaikaranpudur Odayakulam, Coimbatore
This Water Users Association excelled in:
- Efficient irrigation water management
- Fair allocation of water among farmers
- Improving agricultural water efficiency
- Monitoring water usage through technology
This model can be replicated in other agricultural regions of the state.
4️⃣ Best Industry (Factory Category) – Apollo Tyres, Kanchipuram
Apollo Tyres won the award for:
- Achieving water recycling and reuse
- Implementing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems
- Reducing industrial water footprint
- Maintaining eco-friendly production standards
This award encourages more industries to adopt sustainable water practices.
📌 Why Tamil Nadu Stands Out in Water Conservation?Tamil Nadu has a long-standing history of:
✔ Restoring traditional water bodies
✔ Using tank-based irrigation systems
✔ Implementing scientific rainwater harvesting
✔ Encouraging local community involvement
✔ Promoting responsible industrial water usage
The four awards reflect the successful combination of traditional knowledge + modern technology.
🚨 Challenges Ahead for Tamil Nadu
Despite progress, the state still faces:
- Recurring drought conditions
- Uneven distribution of water bodies
- Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation pressure
- Over-extraction of groundwater
To overcome these challenges, continuous policy reforms and community initiatives are essential.
📅 Awards Ceremony Details
- Date: 18 November 2025
- Venue: Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
- Chief Guest: Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu
Awardees will receive:
✔ Certificate of Appreciation
✔ Trophy
✔ Cash Prize (based on category)
❓ FAQs (SEO Optimized)
1. What are the National Water Awards?
They are annual awards by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to honour the best water conservation practices in India.
2. How many awards did Tamil Nadu win in 2024?
Tamil Nadu won four awards.
3. Which Tamil Nadu district won the Best District award?
Tirunelveli district.
4. Who will present the awards in 2025?
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
5. Which industry in Tamil Nadu won the award?
Apollo Tyres, Kanchipuram.
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