But the same award is now haunting senior VMC officials, as a reply to an application under the RTI Act by the Ministry of Water Resources (Indus Wing), New Delhi, has revealed that the ministry does not give such awards and that it is not even aware about it.

The application was filed by Vadodara senior citizen Prafful Desai, who also heads an NGO, Jaagte Raho. “I saw the hoarding while crossing the Khanderao Market, and was surprised because the ground reality was different. I asked the ministry on what grounds the award was given. The reply was ‘nil’. So, I filed another RTI application and in that the ministry categorically stated that no such award is given to VMC or any other corporation,” said Desai.

Vijay Pratap Singh, Chief Public Information Officer, Ministry of Water Resources (Indus Wing), said in his letter dated May 26: “Commission (Indus) is the Appellate Authority in respect of Indus Wing only and not in respect of the entire ministry. The information available in this wing has already been sent to you. It is, however, understood that the competition was not organised by this Ministry.”

Shailesh Mistry, Executive Engineer (Water Supply), said: “It is true that the award is not given by the Ministry of Water Resources and UNESCO. The organisers are basically a forum.”