ITC’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Maharashtra Water Resources Department marks a significant milestone in its journey of river basin regeneration.
MUMBAI (India CSR): ITC Limited, a multi-business conglomerate, is intensifying its commitment to India’s water security through its ambitious River Basin Revival Programme, which spans five rivers and 21 lakh acres across five states: Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. Amid rising water scarcity driven by climate change, urbanization, and agricultural demands, ITC has forged strategic partnerships with the Governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to amplify this initiative, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable water management.
In February 2025, ITC collaborated with Maharashtra’s Water Resources Department to enhance water use efficiency across 60 major irrigation projects in the Godavari, Krishna, and Tapi river basins, the company said.
Spanning 4.25 lakh acres and engaging 521 water user groups, this partnership builds on a 2020 success that improved crop yields and farm incomes. The focus is on water literacy and optimizing usage for key crops, aiming to make these basins water-positive.
Similarly, in March 2025, ITC partnered with Karnataka’s Department of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RD&PR) and Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI) to rejuvenate the South Pennar River basin. Covering Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur districts, this initiative targets 12 taluks, 238 gram panchayats, and includes 13,945 water harvesting and recharge structures to combat water scarcity around Bangalore, the company informed.
The River Basin Revival Programme, covering 21 lakh acres across Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, has already transformed four basins—including Maharashtra’s Ghod—into water-positive zones. Leveraging expertise from partners like WWF India, ACWADAM, and IISc Bangalore, ITC employs hydrogeological studies to balance water supply and demand through rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and efficient irrigation practices. GIS-based studies confirm improved river flows as a result.
S Sivakumar, Head of Sustainability, Agri, and IT at ITC Ltd., stated, “Our programme, spanning five rivers and five states, exemplifies ITC’s vision for large-scale water stewardship. These partnerships with Maharashtra and Karnataka will deepen our impact on lives and landscapes.”
With over 50 public-private partnerships nationwide, ITC’s broader efforts have covered 17 lakh acres, created 58.81 million KL of water storage—equivalent to 23,524 Olympic swimming pools—and earned nine of its units platinum certification under the Alliance for Water Stewardship standard. The River Basin Revival Programme remains a cornerstone of ITC’s mission to secure India’s water future.
(India CSR)
