THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

KALINGANAGAR, OCTOBER 10, 2026

Tata Steel Foundation has won the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2026 in the ‘Beyond the Fence’ category for its integrated watershed management and climate change adaptation project in Kalinganagar, Odisha, recognising its efforts to strengthen water security, restore degraded land and improve rural livelihoods.

The award acknowledges the impact of the foundation’s Kalinganagar Integrated Watershed Management and Climate Change Adaptation Project, which covers 3,270.87 hectares across 12 villages and nine Gram Panchayats in the Danagadi and Sukinda blocks of Jajpur district, within the catchment of the Brahmani river basin.

The initiative was designed to address persistent rural challenges, including dependence on rainfall, land degradation, low agricultural productivity and livelihood insecurity, through a comprehensive ridge-to-valley watershed management approach.

Over four years, the project has brought an additional 207 hectares under irrigation, treated 427 hectares of land, improved the groundwater table by approximately one metre below ground level and restored 143 hectares of previously uncultivable land for productive agricultural use.

Beyond water conservation and land restoration, the programme has promoted sustainable agricultural practices, crop diversification and community-led natural resource management, helping rural households build greater resilience against climate-related uncertainties.

The interventions have contributed to a 33.13 per cent increase in average annual household income over baseline levels, positively impacting 4,820 people, predominantly from marginalised communities, the foundation said.

The recognition came at the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2026 ceremony, attended by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, National Mission for Clean Ganga Director General Rajeev Kumar Mittal, and D Senthil, Joint Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, among other policymakers and sector leaders.

Tata Steel Foundation was represented at the event by its Chief Operating Officer Debdoot Mohanty, Head of Agriculture Anant Singh and other officials.

Commenting on the recognition, Tata Steel Foundation CEO Sourav Roy said the award reflected the collective efforts of local communities and the dedication and technical capabilities of the foundation’s teams in addressing water and livelihood challenges in Kalinganagar.

 “Looking ahead, we aim to build on these efforts to strengthen water security, support resilient rural livelihoods and contribute to sustainable development for generations to come,” Roy said.

The award reinforces the foundation’s focus on developing sustainable and scalable solutions to water-related challenges while strengthening community resilience. It continues to work with local institutions, government agencies and community stakeholders to promote participatory water governance and long-term environmental sustainability.