PEY JAL SURVEKSHAN AWARDS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Policies)

Context: The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs announces the first Pey Jal Survekshan Awards scheduled for the 5th of March 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan.

Pey Jal Survekshan Awards

• About: It ensured clean water through independent NABL lab testing at source and citizen-end.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
• Award Categories

oPey Jal Gold, Silver, and Bronze City Awards: Gold signifies top performers in their respective population categories (1 to 10 Lakh, 10 to 40 Lakh, and More than 40 Lakh), Silver denotes the 2nd position, and Bronze the 3rd.

oAdditional Awards: Commendations for Best Water Body, Sustainability Champion, Reuse Champion, Water Quality, City Saturation, and AMRUT 2.0 Rotating Trophy of the Year.

• Parameters for Evaluation: Access, coverage, water quality at treatment plants and households, and sustainability regarding the health of water bodies, availability of SCADA/flowmeters, and reuse of treated used water.
• Grading System: Cities will be graded on a star rating scale, ranging from 5 stars to No star, encapsulating their performance across critical criteria..

oUtilized a GIS-enabled web portal, geo-tagging, and infrastructure mapping, the survey collected accurate and transparent data.

• Significance: Its results are expected to drive ULB decision-making, enhance service delivery, and foster citizen engagement, instilling a sense of ownership and knowledge dissemination about water conservation and optimal use.