Ambuja Cements Revives Traditional Village Ponds to Improve Water Security in Rajasthan

New Delhi, January 05, 2026: Ambuja Cements has undertaken large-scale revival of traditional village ponds in Rajasthan’s Rabriyawas region as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, with the aim of strengthening rural water security and climate resilience in water-stressed areas.

Launched in 2006–07, the programme focuses on restoring neglected and silted water bodies through a community-led approach that combines technical support from the company with active local participation. The initiative seeks to improve groundwater recharge, agricultural productivity, and long-term sustainability in rural communities.

A key intervention under the programme is the restoration of Gawai Pond in Balada village. Ambuja Cements provided machinery and technical expertise for desilting, while villagers contributed manpower and transport support. The initial desilting created an additional storage capacity of 20,000 cubic metres. Over the past two decades, the pond has been revived 17 times, increasing its cumulative water-holding capacity to 2,15,000 cubic metres. The pond now serves as an important source of water for drinking, livestock, and irrigation.

The enhanced storage capacity at Gawai Pond has enabled cultivation across more than 185 hectares of farmland, supported consistent groundwater recharge during summer months, and improved soil fertility through nutrient-rich silt. This has contributed to improved crop yields, expansion of both kharif and rabi cultivation, and reduced dependence on erratic rainfall.

According to the company, more than 200 ponds have been revived across 33 villages around Rabriyawas to date. These efforts have created a cumulative rainwater harvesting capacity of 23,16,935 cubic metres, benefiting nearly 70,000 people and over 50,000 livestock annually. The initiative has also supported ecosystem restoration, biodiversity regeneration, and reduced soil erosion.

Through the revival of traditional water bodies, Ambuja Cements continues to focus on sustainable water stewardship and community-driven solutions to address water scarcity in Rajasthan.