SFD Nagda unit of Grasim Industries Ltd has won the first-ever TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Award 2021-2022. The Grasim unit won the award in the ‘Water for All’ category.

Mr. K Suresh, Unit Head, Grasim SFD Nagda, and Satish Bhuvir, Head CSR, Grasim Nagda, received the award from Mr. Bharat Lal, Secretary, Lokpal, and former additional secretary Jal Jeevan Mission, and Ms. Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India .

Commitment to communities is at the core of Grasim’s operational ethos and the key driver of its CSR efforts designed to bring about socio-economic development and transformation of rural communities. Several interventions focused on education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure development and women’s empowerment have been launched over the years.

At Nagda, CSR-driven social projects are currently operational in 55 villages, of which 16 have been selected as model villages aimed at holistic development through integrated implementation of development initiatives.

Watershed management

Water is critical for sustenance and the key for sustainable development. This understanding has led Grasim Nagda to support initiatives aimed at increasing access to water.

Grasim Nagda has constructed four big dams on the Chambal river and constructed two reservoirs to conserve water and ensure availability of the vital commodity. Four check dams with a capacity to store 1,070 MLD of water have also been constructed.

Ponds have also been constructed in several villages. Conservation of rain water has also been key to the water management efforts.

In addition to expanding land under irrigation – about 5,148 hectare of land is currently being irrigated – it has also provided a big boost to agri production. The increased availability of water has helped about 9,000 families harvesting three crops annually.

Water for all

Like water for agriculture, the CSR cell has also focussed efforts to ensure availability of potable water in the villages. Reverse osmosis plants have been set up to provide safe drinking water. It has also partnered government agencies to provide piped water supply in rural households and constructed tanks for storage of drinking water. The plant also supported the implementation of Madhya Pradesh government’s Nal Jal Yojana to provide safe drinking water in 22 villages.

The water management efforts have helped Grasim Nagda plant to supply drinking water to nearby towns and villages. In addition to Nagda and Khachrod towns, water is being piped to 22 surrounding villages and also Ratlam railway station. According to conservative estimates it benefits about three lakh people.

The TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Award is a big boost to water management efforts by Grasim’s SFD Nagda unit. The plant has plans to further expand its initiatives to ensure sustainable development of all.