Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Dr. Z. P. Patel Receives “Jal Prahari Samman” for Outstanding Contributions to Water Conservation

On December 18, 2024, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Dr. Z. P. Patel was honored with the prestigious "Jal Prahari Samman" (जल प्रहरी सम्मान) at a ceremony organized by Sarkaritel and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in New Delhi. The award was presented by Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State for Jal Shakti; Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, Hon'ble Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries; Shri Balyogi Umeshnath, Member of the Standing Committee for Water Resources & MP; Shri Rajinder Singh, the renowned "Waterman of India"; and Padma Shri awardee Shri Uma Shankar Pandey.

This esteemed recognition acknowledges the significant contributions of the Soil and Water Management Research Unit (SWMRU) of the university in advancing water conservation, under the theme “Jal Atmanirbhar Bharat.” Dr. V. R. Naik, Head of SWMRU, was also present to receive the award on behalf of the team.

Since assuming office as Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Z. P. Patel has spearheaded numerous initiatives focused on enhancing water harvesting, groundwater recharge, and the improvement of saline water. These efforts have led to marked improvements in the region's water quality. Hon’ble VC has also actively encouraged farmers to adopt advanced water management technologies. Additionally, he laid the foundation for several projects aimed at addressing water crises and mitigating land-intensive climate challenges. His contributions, particularly in the areas of rainwater harvesting and recharge, have paved the way for a transformative approach to water management in the region. Every year, several lakh liters of rainwater are collected through these initiatives, with tube-wells being recharged in the process. Last year 19 lakh litres of water collected from 3 buildings of SWMRU were diverted in borewell. Excess water from farmlands is directed to percolation pits via drainage channels. In these pits, five 10-meter deep, 5-inch diameter tube-wells allow water to seep into the soil, with an average of 7 lakh liters of water being collected and recharged annually from this catchment area.

To enhance water storage, the university has dug and deepened eight ponds with a collective capacity of 44.25 lakh liters. This ensures that rainwater is efficiently collected and stored for future use. Additionally, approximately 40 tube-wells are operational across the university’s Navsari campus. As a result of rainwater harvesting and recharge efforts, the quality of water from these tube-wells has improved, making it suitable for irrigation.