Defence Estates Organisation Wins National Award for Water Conservation Efforts

The award reflects the DEO’s pivotal role in supporting the National Water Mission’s vision of making water conservation a Jan Andolan (people’s movement).

In a landmark recognition of its commitment to environmental sustainability and inter-departmental cooperation, the Defence Estates Organisation (DEO) under the Ministry of Defence was conferred the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 1.0 Award in the category of “Best Partner Ministries/Departments” during the National Water Conservation Ceremony held in New Delhi.

Organised under the aegis of the National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, the event marked a significant moment in India’s journey towards achieving a water-secure and climate-resilient future, and the DEO’s recognition highlighted how institutional leadership, community participation, and infrastructure revival can converge to create real, measurable impact.

A Model for Ministry-Level Water Stewardship

The Defence Estates Organisation, which oversees the management of Cantonment Boards and Defence lands across India, has emerged as a leading example of how central ministries can integrate water security into their core planning frameworks.

Through a mix of policy alignment, ground-level execution, and behaviour change communication, the DEO has implemented comprehensive water conservation strategies across multiple defence installations and civilian Cantonment areas.

Its efforts were particularly noted for:

• Reviving traditional water bodies and heritage-era reservoirs

• Enhancing groundwater recharge through natural and artificial interventions

• Constructing rainwater harvesting systems across military establishments

• Mobilising local communities, defence personnel and youth volunteers for collective action

• Promoting long-term behavioural change in water usage practices

• Blending heritage conservation with modern hydrological science

Defence Estates as a Pillar of the National Water Mission

The award reflects the DEO’s pivotal role in supporting the National Water Mission’s vision of making water conservation a Jan Andolan (people’s movement). The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative to galvanize nationwide participation in the creation and restoration of water assets.

As a key institutional partner, the DEO contributed to the successful first phase (JSJB 1.0) and is expected to play an expanded role in JSJB 2.0, which targets the creation of 10 million artificial recharge and conservation structures by mobilizing multiple ministries and stakeholders.

The DEO’s active collaboration with civil society, local government bodies, and Cantonment Boards has demonstrated the potential of inter-ministerial synergy in achieving complex sustainability goals.

Innovation Meets Community Engagement

One of the defining features of the DEO’s success has been its innovative blend of infrastructure and public engagement. Across several Cantonment towns, the organisation has:

• Mapped and geo-tagged heritage water structures, some dating back centuries

• Repurposed abandoned wells, stepwells, tanks, and ponds into functional community water resources

• Engaged schoolchildren, resident welfare groups and ex-servicemen’s associations in water literacy campaigns

• Encouraged self-governing water maintenance committees within defence and civilian communities

• Integrated climate-resilient landscaping and stormwater harvesting into estate development projects

These efforts not only ensured effective water conservation but also fostered a culture of ownership and environmental stewardship among diverse stakeholders.

Alignment with National Climate and Development Goals

The Defence Estates Organisation’s work directly aligns with India’s National Water Policy, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), and the Panchamrit commitments announced at global climate forums. By reviving dying water bodies and maximizing nature-based solutions, the DEO is contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation

• SDG 13 – Climate Action

• SDG 15 – Life on Land

• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

The organisation also serves as a key stakeholder in integrated climate and biodiversity planning, linking land use governance with natural resource management.

Recognition at a National Milestone Event

The National Water Conservation Ceremony, where the awards were presented, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, and other ministries. It served as a platform to showcase success stories and catalyze cross-sectoral partnerships.

The DEO’s award was celebrated as a milestone in mainstreaming water governance across defence institutions, offering a template for other government departments to follow.

Looking Ahead: Defence Estates and JSJB 2.0

With the ambitious goals set under JSJB 2.0, the Defence Estates Organisation is expected to scale up its role further by:

• Identifying new sites for artificial recharge structures

• Documenting and sharing best practices from defence establishments

• Training estate managers and Cantonment Board officials in water-sensitive planning

• Creating replicable models of defence–civil society partnerships in resource management

This forward-looking approach cements the DEO’s standing not only as a land administration authority but also as a climate and sustainability leader within India’s governance architecture.