Sustainable water project by Hinduja, Ambuja foundations adds 6 billion litres in storage capacity

A collaborative water conservation initiative led by the Hinduja Foundation and Ambuja Foundation has positively impacted over 2.74 lakh people across 173 villages in Rajasthan, addressing chronic water scarcity through a mix of traditional knowledge and modern interventions.

Marking World Environment Day, the two organisations announced the outcomes of a seven-year water stewardship programme under the Hinduja Foundation’s Jal Jeevan initiative. The programme has resulted in the creation of over 6.07 billion litres of additional water storage capacity in districts including Alwar, Ajmer, Karauli, and Phalodi.

The project has also seen the emergence of over 1,000 trained women volunteers, or Sujal Sahelis, who lead local campaigns on water conservation, hygiene, and awareness. These women now operate through the Sujal Mahila Mahasangh, a grassroots collective working to scale up sustainable practices and promote women’s leadership in water governance. The collective currently has 450 active members and aims to train 2,000 women leaders by 2026.

In terms of physical infrastructure, the initiative has implemented over 2,100 rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures, constructed 65 farm ponds, 218 farm tanks, and developed 13 check dams. Additionally, 90 village ponds were deepened, and 423 hectares brought under micro-irrigation. Over 45,000 meters of pipeline have been laid to improve access to water, and 1,525 saplings have been planted as part of the ecological restoration effort.

According to the Hinduja Foundation, the broader Jal Jeevan initiative has reached more than 50 lakh people across 4,000 villages in 18 states and union territories. The Foundation claims it has helped restore up to 5 trillion litres of water, spanning 40 lakh acres of agricultural land, through check-dam construction, lake revival, rooftop harvesting, and well restoration.

The Rajasthan project has been supported by various Hinduja Group companies, including Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank, Hinduja Global Solutions, and others, working collectively to expand the initiative’s reach and impact.