CSR: Tata Motors to Restore 1,500 Water Bodies in Maharashtra

MUMBAI (India CSR): Strengthening one of Maharashtra’s largest corporate-led water conservation programmes, Tata Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Government of Maharashtra to rejuvenate and restore 1,500 additional water bodies in water stressed regions across 25 districts. This expansion builds on the convergence-led water conservation programme that has already restored over 1,450 water bodies, since summers of year 2023, adding more than 3,000 crore litres of water storage capacity and benefitting nearly-7 lakh people in rural Maharashtra.

The public-private-community driven water conservation model has improved year-round water availability, increased groundwater recharge and enhanced irrigation access in some of Maharashtra’s most water-stressed regions. In the next phase, the programme will strengthen its presence across districts in Nagpur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Pune and Konkan division.

Speaking about the expansion of the programme, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister – Government of Maharashtra, said, “The Gal Mukt Dharan, Gal Yukt Shivar Yojana reflects Maharashtra’s commitment to building long-term water security through decentralised, community-led solutions. Tata Motors has been a valued partner to the state for many years, driving impactful initiatives not merely as Corporate Social Responsibility, but as a truly responsible institution. Through this partnership, we have scaled and strengthened our efforts towards groundwater recharge and agricultural resilience, accelerating the government’s efforts to improve water availability and mitigate water scarcity across the state.”

Speaking on the initiative, Vinod Kulkarni, Head- CSR, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Our commitment to water conservation is anchored in convergence with the government schemes, long-term partnerships and community ownership to deliver impact at scale. The evolution of this initiative from a corporate-funded CSR effort into a replicable and sustainable water conservation programme represents our shared vision with the Government of Maharashtra to provide sustainable water solutions  that raises water table, ensures year-round availability of water and strengthens rural livelihoods. With NAAM Foundation as our implementation partner, we will continue to deepen our reach and expand outcomes in water-stressed regions of rural Maharashtra.”

Commenting on the implementation, Ganesh Thorat, CEO, NAAM Foundation said, “The agile and efficient execution of restoring water bodies, enabled by the support of the Government of Maharashtra and Tata Motors is creating a ripple effect on water availability, livelihoods and quality of life in rural areas. Beyond using the nutrient rich silt on their fields, the villagers also use the excavated silt and murmur to build farm roads. This growing community ownership is accelerating restoration efforts and increasing participating in village development and governance.”

In 2025 alone, through its CSR, the company has successfully rejuvenated 1,000 water bodies across 25 districts in Maharashtra, creating 2250 crore litres of additional water storage capacity. The revived water bodies have significantly reduced dependence on tankers during peak summers, improved access to drinking and irrigation water, enabled farmers to shift from single to double cropping, increased incomes, and reduced seasonal migration. Improved water availability has also lessened the daily burden on women, freeing up time for farming, childcare and other productive activities.

Evolution of the Water Conservation Programme

Since 2024, Tata Motors efforts have aligned with the state’s flagship Gal Mukt Dharan, Gal Yukt Shivar Yojana, which supports desilting and rejuvenation of water bodies. Under the scheme, farmers receive pre-approved funds to transport nutrient-rich silt to their fields, improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

Meticulous planning, clearly defined roles, rigorous review, digital monitoring mechanism and continuous community engagement have ensured transparency, accountability and efficiency in implementation.

(India CSR)