Volkswagen India commits INR 51 lakhs towards CSR project in drought-affected village of Naiphad in Khed district, close to its Pune Plant, The construction of new water bunds and repairs undertaken will increase water reserves by 100,000 meter cube, The project undertaken by Volkswagen India will address the needs of over 500 families of the village

IndiaCSR News Network

PUNE: Volkswagen India initiated a CSR project at Naiphad village in Khed district by conducting the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of water bunds.

The INR 51 lakh-project will contribute to the Government of Maharashtra’s ‘Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan’, which aims to make Maharashtra drought-free by 2019.

Volkswagen India Private Limited strengthened its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities by commencing a new project for improving water reserves at a drought-affected village in Khed district.

Naiphad, located close to Bhimashankar, is the second village at which Volkswagen India has undertaken a project to overcome water scarcity.

With this, Volkswagen continues its global tradition of supporting social projects in the region around its production facilities.

“A lot of villages in Maharashtra are facing water scarcity which affects not only the agricultural activities but also the daily life of the villagers.

Through our efforts of increasing the water reserves in Naiphad, we expect to improve the living conditions in the village in a sustainable manner”, said Peter Raussendorf, Executive Director – HR & Admin at the ground-breaking ceremony.

As a responsible corporate, Volkswagen India focusses on giving back to the society through activities which help the needy to overcome their daily challenges in life.

The project undertaken at Naiphad would include constructing two new water bunds, de-silting of lakes and water streams as well as repairing old structures on the water stream.

Consequently, these activities will result in raising the ground water table, better retention of water for agriculture and domestic use, better channelizing of rain waiter in main stream and a sustainable improvement in the water level in the wells.

“Our project at Naiphad village will increase the water conservation by over 100,000 meter cube which is almost 50% more than what the existing structures offer which will bring the total capacity to over 300,000 meter cube.

The additional retention of water will address over 75% requirement of drinking water for the entire population of the drought-affected village”, added Mr. Raussendorf.

This village was recommended, from a total of 15 shortlisted options, by officials from Government of Maharashtra under its project ‘Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan’.Volkswagen India had done a similar project at Gulani, Khed which improved the water situation in the village. The efforts were widely appreciated by Government of Maharashtra.

Additionally, Volkswagen India has undertaken other CSR activities in the past such as H1N1 vaccination to over 1500 school children.

supporting Inter-Mission Industrial Development Community College in Chakan with sponsorship, donating an ambulance to the Red Cross, building an additional block at Zilla Parishad School in Nighoje and a donating a bus to the Inter Mission Care and Rehabilitation Society in Paud.