Palghar (Maharashtra), Sep 6 (IANS): Maharashtra's Govardhan Ecovillage has won one of the worlds most prestigious environmental awards -- India National Energy Globe Award 2019 -- for its Integrated Water Conservation and Protection Scheme in the tribal areas of Palghar, an official said here on Friday.

The village Director Gauranga Das received the award on Friday in Mumbai.

For a decade, Govardhan Ecovillage, spread across 100-acres, is engaged in eradicating poverty by providing livelihood, women's empowerment, rural education, rural resources development, rural health care, skill development for tribal youth, etc.

It also provides facilities such as Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, organic farming, solar power plant, biogas plant, rain water harvesting, soil bio-technology plant for sewage management, green buildings, and other initiatives to handle all local community needs.

The Energy Globe Award worldwide was founded in 1999 by Austrian energy pioneer Wolfgang Neumann. It is awarded annually to projects focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energies and the conservation of resources.

The award, which receives around 800 entries for environment related projects and initiatives annually, is presented country-wise in collaboration with the local partners.

Govardhan Ecovillage has also got several other awards such as the UN World Tourism Organisation Award, Water Digest Award and the Green Platinum Award. Besides, it is also part of the study project by Yale and Harvard Universities for ecological sustainability and rural development.