Pune – Atlas Copco a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions announced the successful completion of a project that brings clean and safe water to communities of over 50 000 people in Maharashtra. The ‘Jaldoot’ project which runs across the state, was undertaken as a leading CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiative through the company’s voluntary employee initiative, Water for All.
Water for All’s Jaldoot project in Maharashtra has been undertaken in co-operation with the NGO Sevavardhini, and further roping-in a sizeable number of other NGOs, working in village communities. Over 40 people from 25 villages were selected and inducted into the Jaldoot program to receive and implement training on water management and conservation methods.
Giovanni Valent, Managing Director, Atlas Copco India said, “Providing clean and safe water to areas in need has long been a cause close to the heart of Atlas Copco all over the world. Jaldoot is a community initiative that aims to not only provide clean drinking water to people in need but to also reduce over-dependence on the monsoon for agriculture. I am very proud to announce the completion of this project today in the presence of these ‘Jaldoots (water messengers).’
The project ran over two and a half years across Maharashtra and saw spends of over INR 2.25 crore from Atlas Copco and its employees. The project brings direct benefits to communities of over 50 000 people in drought-prone areas of the state. The long-term goal was the involvement and training of the local community in water management systems.
The participants from the villages, called “Jaldoots”, conducted and prepared Participative Resource Mapping surveys and made Detailed Project Reports of their villages, after which 24 practical interventions were identified and implemented. Some of the most notable ones included: ridge to valley treatments for water harvesting, Continuous Contour Trenches, Water Absorption Trenches, Gabion bunds, repairing of bunds and preparation of new cement bunds and storage tanks for rainwater harvesting.
