New Delhi, Nov 18: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged citizens, institutions and governments to treat water as a sacred and finite national resource, as she conferred the sixth National Water Awards in the capital.

Highlighting rising pressure on India’s limited freshwater reserves, Murmu said sustainable management and community participation were vital for long-term water security. Quoting the Rig Veda, she said, “apsu antah amritam” — there is immortality in water. “A person can survive a few days without food, but not without water. We are using a very valuable resource,” she said.

Congratulating the 46 awardees across 10 categories for their conservation and innovation efforts, the President stressed that climate change is disrupting the water cycle and intensifying demand on

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