President Droupadi Murmu honoured IAS officer Dr Nagarjun B Gowda at Vigyan Bhavan on Tuesday for his pioneering rain harvesting programme, launched in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district. As a result, Khandwa was declared the ‘Best Performing District’ in the country winning a cash award of Rs 2 crore.
A native of Tiptur in Tumakuru district of Karnataka, Dr Gowda received the award together with Khandwa Collector Rishav Gupta for their model of water conservation. Gowda is currently serving as CEO of Khandwa Zilla Panchayat.
Under their leadership, government officials, from the village accountant to the top, went from village to village, urging residents, farmers, schools, and government offices to adopt rainwater harvesting. The result was overwhelming, as over 129,000 installations, including 40,000 rooftop water harvesting systems, recharge pits, trenches, and other structures, turned Khandwa into a rainwater-positive district and set a benchmark for the country.
Gowda later said his mission was rooted in his childhood experience in drought-hit Tiptur as Khandwa resembled his hometown. He resolved to better his performance next year.
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