MUMBAI: Ambuja Cements Ltd., has been conferred with the coveted CII National Awards for Excellence in Water Management in the Beyond the Fence category for its outstanding water resource management endeavours in the vicinity of its mother plant Ambujanagar in Gujarat.
“Ambuja Cement has achieved 5.5 times Water Positive status – the highest in the industry in India – with Ambujanagar alone clocking a footprint that is 12.7 times water positive.”, statement said.
A trophy and a certificate were received by Dalsukh Vaghasiya, Ambuja Cement Foundation’s (ACF) Area Programme Manager in Gujarat from U P Singh, Additional Secretary & Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation at the glittering 3rd Water Innovation Summit-2017 in New Delhi recently. More than 200 delegates from India and abroad were present on the occasion.
Ajay Kapur, MD & CEO of Ambuja Cements Ltd. said, “Winning this prestigious accolade is a proud moment for all of us. Ambuja’s sustainability efforts of the past three decades have translated into benefits to the community. Today, we are also aligned with our Group LafargeHolcim’s Sustainable Development 2030 Plan covering water, climate, circular economy, nature, people and communities.”
This award by industry association – the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) – recognises outstanding efforts by corporates in implementing water and watershed management projects with the involvement of public and private agencies as well as the community. The platform promotes sharing of information by excellent water efficient companies.
In Gujarat, Ambuja and its CSR arm have led initiatives such as check dams, deepening of ponds and roof rain water harvesting structures. These interventions provide water for cultivation, rearing of animals, drinking and household activities, besides substantial economic benefits in and around Kodinar where the plant is located and four other talukas – Sutrapada Una, Veraval and Talala in Gir Somnath district— that were once water-stressed and salinity affected.
In Kodinar alone, It has reversed the trend of salinity in over 15,600 hectares of agricultural land in 83 villages. In fact, a recent Social Return on Investment (SROI) study by external certification body DNV-GL showed that Ambuja’s water programs have yielded 13 times social returns in this taluka.
