IHCL Advances Water Stewardship Ahead of World Water Day

Paathya framework drives conservation and community-led water management

Ahead of World Water Day, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), guided by its ESG+ framework, Paathya, is advancing its focus on water stewardship. Recognizing water as a shared and limited resource, IHCL’s approach goes beyond operational efficiency within its hotels to include conservation efforts in water-stressed regions.

Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said, “At IHCL, sustainability is embedded in our approach to long-term value creation through our ESG+ framework of Paathya. Water stewardship reflects a conscious effort to align business growth with responsible management of natural resources in the destinations we operate in. We believe progress must be supported by actions that help restore and strengthen ecological systems. By aligning our growth with conservation efforts and community-led initiatives, we aim to integrate sustainability into destination development.”

Watershed projects in Gujarat focus on groundwater and livelihoods

In Gujarat, IHCL, in partnership with Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), is working to address water stress in the Rupen River macro-watershed across Una and Gir Gadhada talukas in Gir Somnath district. The region has faced groundwater depletion and salinity ingress, impacting agriculture and local livelihoods.

The initiative focuses on watershed-level interventions, including rainwater harvesting, revival of traditional water bodies and ecosystem restoration across 30 villages covering approximately 20,000 hectares. The project aims to improve water availability, strengthen soil moisture, reduce salinity and increase vegetation cover. These measures are expected to support water access for farmers, stabilise rural livelihoods, reduce migration pressures and contribute to long-term ecological balance, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 6, 13, 15 and 17.

The progress of this initiative has supported the expansion of similar water conservation efforts in other regions. IHCL has also initiated an Integrated Water Resource Development and Management project with ACF in the Naswadi block of Chhota Udepur district in Gujarat, focusing on climate resilience and livelihood support.

Community-based conservation expands to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

Through the National Agro Foundation (NAF), IHCL is implementing a watershed conservation project in the Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. The initiative focuses on restoring local water bodies, improving groundwater recharge and promoting efficient water use to support sustainable rural ecosystems.

In Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district, IHCL, in collaboration with Environment Association Bangalore (EAB), is supporting rainwater harvesting at Karnataka Public School in Mandikal. The initiative helps improve water access and reduce dependence on groundwater. Restoration work has also been carried out at the Temple Kalyani in Hosahalli, reviving a traditional stone-stepped water structure.

Targeting water recharge across multiple regions

IHCL’s water conservation initiatives across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka aim to achieve a combined recharge and potential savings of over 50 lakh cubic metres of water over a three-year period. Through these efforts, the Paathya framework continues to connect environmental responsibility with community well-being, supporting a more balanced approach to tourism development.