THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 20, 2026

With global projections warning of a potential 40 per cent water shortfall by 2030 if current consumption trends persist, the urgency for scalable and sustainable water stewardship has intensified. Marking World Water Day, Vedanta Limited, India’s leading metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology conglomerate, announced that it has recycled and reused more than 85 million cubic metres of water across its operations in FY26 (till February YTD). This volume is equivalent to over 34,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The company’s water positivity index currently stands at 0.63, based on internal water accounting aligned with globally accepted frameworks, underscoring its commitment to building a sustainable and resilient water management system that delivers measurable environmental outcomes while supporting business performance and shareholder value.

Amid increasing water stress in India driven by climate variability and rising demand, Vedanta continues to advance responsible water stewardship through technology-driven efficiency, ecosystem restoration and community partnerships, reinforcing its goal of becoming fully Net Water Positive by 2030.

Vedanta’s water stewardship framework focuses on recycling treated water to reduce dependence on freshwater sources, improving operational efficiency to conserve water and replenishing water resources through watershed development and community initiatives. This integrated approach has enabled several of its businesses, including Hindustan Zinc Limited, Cairn Oil & Gas and Vedanta’s Iron Ore Business, to achieve net water positive status, where the volume of water replenished exceeds freshwater consumption.

The company has also strengthened water management practices across its industrial operations, achieving a 31 per cent water recycling rate, placing it among the higher ranges observed in water-intensive industries globally through advanced treatment and reuse systems. Through groundwater recharge and watershed initiatives, Vedanta has replenished or conserved more than 7 million cubic metres of water during the year.

Operational innovations continue to enhance water efficiency across facilities. Bharat Aluminium Company Limited has implemented reuse of cooling tower blowdown water, reducing freshwater consumption by nearly 4,800 cubic metres per day. Similarly, Meenakshi Energy Limited operates entirely on 100 per cent seawater, eliminating freshwater dependence for its power generation processes. Such measures, supported by closed-loop water management systems and recycling infrastructure, are significantly reducing reliance on freshwater sources.

Aligned with this year’s World Water Day theme, “Water and Gender – Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” Vedanta continues to integrate water stewardship with community development and gender inclusion initiatives. Recognising that women and girls are often disproportionately impacted by water scarcity, the company’s programmes aim to improve access to safe water while supporting better health, education and livelihood opportunities.

Vedanta’s water and WASH initiatives now extend across more than 225 villages, benefiting over 10.5 lakh people in FY26 through watershed development, rainwater harvesting and safe drinking water infrastructure. The initiatives include solar-powered borewells, sewage treatment plants and RO systems that collectively supply more than 30 lakh litres of clean drinking water to communities.

In Rajasthan, Cairn Oil & Gas has developed five community ponds and over 100 earthen bunds to capture monsoon rainwater and recharge groundwater for agriculture, along with nearly 70 community rainwater harvesting structures in Barmer district to improve water availability in highly water-stressed regions. In Punjab, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited has supported rejuvenation of village ponds and construction of rainwater harvesting pits for farmers. Vedanta’s Iron Ore Business has created groundwater recharge pits to enhance water availability in surrounding communities, while its Lanjigarh operations have created a water recharge potential of 10 lakh cubic metres, supporting irrigation across more than 800 acres and enabling development of water bodies in 30 villages. Project SANGAM at Lanjigarh has also developed over 50 water structures, enabling more than 4 lakh cubic metres of water recharge and benefiting over 5,000 community members.

Vedanta’s leadership in responsible water management has received national recognition, with the Rajpura Dariba Complex of Hindustan Zinc Limited becoming the first Vedanta facility to receive Scope 1 Water Positivity Aspiring Company certification from NITI Aayog. The recognition highlights progress in watershed assessment, water audits, source mapping and long-term water management planning.

Through continued investments in water efficiency, ecosystem restoration and community partnerships, Vedanta Limited continues to strengthen its commitment to responsible water management and long-term environmental resilience.