Lucknow: Anurag Srivastava, the Additional Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh’s Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, has been selected for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for 2023. This accolade, in the ‘Innovation-State’ category, recognizes his pioneering implementation of solar energy in the state’s Jal Jeevan Mission projects.
A 1992 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Srivastava holds BTech and MTech degrees in Civil Engineering. Throughout his 23-year career, he has served in various key positions, including District Magistrate in ten districts such as Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, and Kanpur Nagar. He has also been the Commissioner of Meerut, Aligarh, and Basti, and has held roles in the central government as Joint Secretary in the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, and AYUSH.
Under Srivastava’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a frontrunner in integrating solar power into rural water supply schemes. Of the 41,539 projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the state, over 80%—totaling 33,157 projects—are powered by solar energy, collectively generating 900 megawatts of electricity daily. This large-scale adoption has led to a more than 50% reduction in rural water supply costs and decreased reliance on conventional electricity sources. These solar installations, designed for low maintenance, have an estimated lifespan of 30 years and are projected to save approximately ₹1 lakh crore over this period. Additionally, they contribute to an annual reduction of around 13 lakh metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
The Union Ministry of Personnel’s Secretary, V. Srinivas, conveyed this recognition to Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh. In his communication, Srinivas lauded Srivastava’s “valuable contribution with commitment and dedicated efforts” in achieving exemplary performance in the innovation category.
The award ceremony is scheduled for April 10 in New Delhi, where Srivastava will be formally honored for his contributions. The Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration aims to acknowledge and reward extraordinary and innovative work by IAS officers across the nation, focusing on the central government’s top priority programs.
In preparation for the sustainable management of these solar-powered water projects, the Jal Jeevan Mission has trained 12.5 lakh individuals in rural areas. These trained personnel are responsible for the operation and security of the installations, ensuring their longevity and effectiveness.
The selection process for this prestigious award involves multiple stages, including initial screening by a committee led by an Additional Secretary-level officer, feedback analysis, on-site evaluations by central government officials, and final recommendations by a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The Prime Minister grants the final approval for the awards, underscoring the rigorous assessment and high standards upheld in recognizing administrative excellence.
