HCLTech, an Indian IT services company, was awarded the National Water Award 2022 by the Government of India for its water conservation and management initiatives in India through community activities and cutting-edge technologies.
The National Water Awards have been instituted by the government of India, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, according to the government website.
HCL Foundation Vice President Nidhi Pundhir, the vice president of global CSR at HCL Foundation, explained the company's role in various water conservation projects across India. HCLTech is focused on water stewardship and supports sustainable, scalable, and innovative solutions in the use and treatment of water. This award reinforces our efforts to ensure equitable and viable water stewardship with a range of long-term programs, prioritizing water sustainability and community involvement in rural and urban areas in India, Pundhir said.
It is worth noting that so far, the IT services firm has harvested 57.9 billion litres of water and rejuvenated over 200 water structures.
Some of the company's initiatives include campaigns to increase biodiversity along river Ganga's catchment by planting Rudraksha and other native species in Uttarakhand.
Other projects, such as revitalizing the Periyar Canal in Kerala, removing invasive species growing on the Riverbed of Vaigai in Madurai, installing rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in corporation schools in Madurai and Noida, and aiding poor farmers in transform their wastelands into cultivable land through small-scale rainwater harvesting techniques in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti emphasised that HCLTech's actions in water conservation comply with the Government of India's Jal Shakti Abhiyan Program. To improve groundwater recharge, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan program focuses on replenishing water sources, conserving water bodies and increasing green cover for enhancing groundwater recharge. Moreover, these measures address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, especially SDG 6 clean water and sanitation, and SDG 15 life on land.