Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group, and Hinduja Foundation, partnered with Ambuja Cement Foundation, commenced the ‘Sustainable Water Management Project’ (SWMP) at Kerwa Jat cluster of Alwar.
The project was launched by Inderjeet Singh, I.A.S., District Collector, Alwar in the presence of Venkat Kiran Kumar, Plant Head, Ashok Leyland, Alwar plant, Niyati Sareen, Director-Water, Hinduja Foundation, Abhishek Khanna, I.A.S, Asst Collector & Executive Magistrate, Jitendra Singh Naruka, Deputy Secretary, UIT (Urban Improvement Trust), Alwar and Mr. Vinay Kumar Nagayach, R.A.S., ZP-CEO, Alwar.
The Sustainable Water Management Project to promote integrated water management practices to farmers of Kerwa Jat cluster is funded by Ashok Leyland and implemented partnering with Ambuja Cement Foundation.
The core objective of this project is to create awareness in Doomera, Nagla Charan, Nagali Rajawat, Kerwa Jat and Kakrali Jat villages of Alwar district on effective water usage, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharging and sanitation.
In the first phase, required infrastructure and facilities will be created in Doomera and Nagla Charan villages. The community will be empowered to develop, adapt to the sustainable water process and increase their earnings.
Commenting on this project, Venkat Kiran Kumar, Plant Head, Alwar Plant, Ashok Leyland, said, “The SWMP project will improve the livelihood of farmers and assist them in integrated water management systems. This initiative will also help them to face the recent climate change and water constraints. Our focus in this project will be on effective water usage, groundwater recharging and sanitation. About 6251 people of 1045 families across 5 villages will be benefited from this project.
Inderjeet Singh, I.A.S., District Collector, Alwar, appreciating this project said, “Protecting and conserving our environment is the need of the hour. Contribution from corporates like Ashok Leyland and Ambuja Cement are significant to our society. We feel this Sustainable Water Management Project will create a long-lasting impact on the communities and in the climate-changing scenario. I request more corporates to follow the footprints of Ashok Leyland and Ambuja Cement on such water conservation projects.”
Jitendra Singh Naruka, I.A.S., Deputy. Secretary, UIT (Urban Improvement Trust), Alwar, said, “We are happy to see corporates taking initiatives and supporting to spread awareness on water conservation and protecting the environment. Now we can see a large number of villagers coming forward to join hands with corporates. This is a good sign that the integrated water management is getting significant importance among communities.”
SWMP project will be maintained and managed by 2 village development committees in all 5 villages. This will instil the community in empowering the ownership of the initiative and supports in creating awareness on water conservation.
The project will include institutional mechanisms for sustainable water management, improving groundwater condition, the revival of ponds, construction of rainwater harvesting system, water storage tanks for farming purposes and recharging of 20 bore wells. Besides, the project also covers the construction of 134 toilets to promote Hygiene and Sanitation at these villages.
Abhishek Khanna, Assistant Collector and Executive Magistrate, Alwar, in his speech emphasized, “The Community to learn and adopt the innovative irrigation methods being implemented through this project like drip irrigation methods, sprinklers etc., and conserve water to maximum extent possible.”
