- To replenish an expected 3 billion+ liters annually across India’s urban centers
- Latest Maharashtra project spans 1,500 hectares, aiming to add 1.3 billion liters annually while supporting 700 farming families with 80% projected income increase
- Other water conservation portfolios are expected to replenish more than 2 billion liters of water annually, benefiting communities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai
- Initiatives advance company’s goal to return more water to communities in India than used in its direct operations by 2027
- Projects address both urban water security and rural agricultural resilience through nature-based solutions
NE ENVIRONMENT BUREAU
BANGALORE, AUG 11
Amazon India on Monday announced it has invested more than ₹37 crores in water replenishment projects across India, which are expected to restore over 3 billion liters of water annually, benefiting people in water-stressed communities. This portfolio of initiatives spans four major urban centers—Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Mumbai—supporting Amazon’s goal to return more water to communities than it uses in its direct operations in India by 2027.
“Water security represents one of India’s most pressing environmental challenges, requiring collaborative solutions across sectors,” said Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations, Amazon India and Australia. “Through strategic investments in both urban and rural watersheds, we’re not only addressing immediate water access issues but also building long-term resilience for communities where we operate. Each project is designed to support agricultural livelihoods, enhancing biodiversity, and securing urban water supplies.”
Amazon’s water portfolio includes the restoration of Yamare Lake near Bengaluru and Sai Reddy Lake near Hyderabad, in collaboration with SayTrees, which together is expected to replenish over 570 million liters annually. In New Delhi, the company is working with Hasten Regeneration on a Yamuna River watershed project that is expected to add another 400 million liters of annual replenishment capacity. These initiatives employ solutions like desilting, repair bund formations, restoring intel/outlet structures, and constructing percolation pits to maximize water replenishment.
Today, Amazon also announced its latest water investment—a ₹10 crore project in Maharashtra’s Vaitarna hydrobasin that will replenish 1.3 billion liters annually when completed in 2027. Developed with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), this initiative spans communities upstream of Mumbai, implementing rainwater harvesting structures, field bunding, and improved drainage networks that is expected to benefit 700 farming families while supporting water security for Mumbai’s metropolitan region.
The community impact of Amazon’s water investments extends beyond environmental benefits, creating significant economic opportunities. The Maharashtra project alone is expected to boost household incomes by approximately 80% for participating farming families by enabling increased agricultural productivity during the Rabi season. Similar outcomes have been documented at other project sites, where improved water access has transformed agricultural possibilities and reduced vulnerability to drought conditions. These water replenishment initiatives align with Amazon’s broader sustainability commitments, including its goal to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040 as a co-founder of The Climate Pledge.
“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome the initiative to replenish the Vaitarna River. Enhancing climate resilience in water-stressed communities is a key priority for the Maharashtra Government,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. “The collaboration between Amazon and ICRISAT to replenish groundwater in the Vaitarna basin is a vital step in this direction. The Vaitarna River is crucial not only for the Mumbai metropolitan region but also for Maharashtra’s agro-systems and communities. Its regeneration will directly benefit our communities, farmers, and food systems. I commend Amazon’s commitment to groundwater recharge in the Vaitarna basin, which will support our smallholder farmers and ensure water security for future generations. Given the challenges posed by climate change and groundwater depletion, such initiatives are both timely and essential. I look forward to the long-term benefits this project will bring to our people, agriculture, and environment. Once again, I congratulate and applaud everyone involved in this initiative and wish them the best for its success,” he added.
Similarly, AWS has implemented significant water projects across India, including groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting initiatives with WaterAid in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh that is expected to supply 640 million liters of water annually. AWS’s collaboration with Water.org has provided more than 500 million liters of water annually to people who previously lacked consistent access to clean water around Mumbai and Hyderabad. AWS is also working with SEARCH, a nonprofit organization that enables marginalized rural groups to achieve enhanced socioeconomic status, to deliver 86 million liters of water annually back to farmers in villages surrounding Hyderabad.
