Mumbai, 14 February, 2026: 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.
The expansion strengthens one of the state’s largest corporate-led water conservation initiatives. Over the past three years, the programme has restored more than 1,450 water bodies, adding over 3,000 crore litres of water storage capacity and benefiting nearly 7 lakh people in rural Maharashtra.
The initiative follows a public-private-community model aimed at improving year-round water availability, increasing groundwater recharge, and enhancing irrigation access. In its next phase, the programme will deepen its presence across districts in the Nagpur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Pune and Konkan divisions.
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.”
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.”
In 2025 alone, Tata Motors has rejuvenated 1,000 water bodies across 25 districts, creating approximately 2,250 crore litres of additional water storage capacity. The restored structures have reduced dependence on water tankers during peak summer months, improved access to drinking and irrigation water, enabled farmers to shift from single to double cropping, and supported higher farm incomes. Improved water access has also reduced the daily burden on women in rural households.
Since 2024, the programme has aligned with the state’s 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, enhancing soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
Implementation support is being provided by NAAM Foundation, with structured planning, digital monitoring, defined roles and continuous community engagement aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.
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