MUMBAI: Ambuja Cement Ltd., a part of the global conglomerate LafargeHolcim and one of the leading cement manufacturing companies in India, has celebrated the World Water Day 2018 across its operations with great enthusiasm and zeal, thereby creating awareness about the importance of water and advocating for the sustainable management of water resources.

The celebrations held under the theme ‘Nature for Water’ were marked with a series of activities – ‘Run for Water’ marathons, rallies, experience sharing sessions and awareness talks in which scores of people from Ambuja operations and nearby communities participated. The teams of Ambuja CSR arm Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee year, too actively contributed to the events.

Ajay Kapur, MD & CEO of Ambuja Cement said, “Ambuja Cement has exhibited a great commitment towards water resource management. Over the years, we have not only reduced the water footprint of our operations but also promoted responsible water management in partnership with various government and other local stakeholders. In fact, Ambuja Cement has adopted a True Value approach – encompassing people, planet, and profit –which has given us further impetus to meet our Group’s Sustainability Development Strategy objectives.”

“The World Water Day celebrations offered us yet another opportunity to reinforce our commitment to preserve water and spearhead a strong water conservation movement, thus generating further awareness among the employees, communities and other stakeholders about this precious natural resource,” added Kapur.

Ambuja Cement’s mother plant Ambujanagar in Gujarat led the celebrations with a marathon in which over 500 people participated; while over 70 members of Ambuja’s women club visited the Bhekeshwar Dam – one of the biggest water harvesting projects developed by ACF in collaboration with its partners – to spread the word about the water harvesting initiatives and its benefits to the communities. An awareness session, quiz competition for employees, poster competition for children too saw enthusiastic participation.

Celebrations at Bathinda in Punjab and Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh too were marked with the marathons; poems were recited, water saving related videos played and skits performed. Operations in other locations including the Maratha Cement Works in Maharashtra and Darlaghat in Himachal Pradesh too widely observed this special day.

Ambuja Cement through its CSR arm ACF implemented multiple initiatives by adopting a holistic approach of building infrastructure for water conservation, like check dams and roof rainwater harvesting structures. The company also created an impact on the environment, groundwater resources, agriculture and allied livelihood activities. These efforts led Ambuja Cement to notch up 5.5 times Water Positive status – the highest in the industry in India.

Ambuja Cements Ltd., a part of the global conglomerate LafargeHolcim, is one of the leading cement companies in India. Operating for over 30 years, Ambuja has proved to be the best cement for construction and the best cement manufacturing company in India with its uniquely sustainable development projects. Its environment friendly initiatives have played a key role in India’s efforts to become a green state. The sustainable constructions and renewable energy projects undertaken by it have a lion’s share in creating a blueprint for sustainable development in India’s bright future. Currently, Ambuja has a cement capacity of 29.65 million tonnes with five integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across the country.