Guided by Sustainable Development Goal #6 of the United Nations, to ‘Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All’, Tata Steel Foundation's (TSF) commitment to ensuring clean and safe drinking water is reshaping lives in rural communities around the Tata Steel Meramandali plant at Narendrapur in Dhenkanal.

This includes the implementation of a solar-powered drinking water project at eleven peripheral villages under Kusupanga, Nuagaon, Sibapur and Nuahata Gram Panchayats. This unique sustainable drinking water project has been a boon for residents of these villages. Besides this, the distribution of 19 water purifiers to nearby schools in Odapada Block and seven to other public institutions have also been beneficial to the students and staff of the schools and other institutions.

A deep borewell with a submersible pump and a 500-metre pipeline connection in Kusupanga village has also been installed.

Expressing her happiness, Mami Palei of Brahmana Purunakote said: “Earlier, we used to walk around one kilometre to get water. Also, the village tube well was not functioning properly. This is a big help to the women of the village, as fetching water has been a primary responsibility in the village.”

Mamata Rout of Joragadia village said: “We used to face difficulty in getting drinking water during the peak summer season. After completion of the solar drinking water project, we are receiving ample amount of water at our doorstep. I am also happy that we are relieved from any electricity charge for our water. This is promoting clean and green energy.”

Additionally, 122 tube wells have been installed across nine nearby panchayats of Odapada, Banarpal and Hindol blocks, further expanding access to clean water sources. The annual maintenance for two reverse osmosis water processing plants with a capacity of 2,000 LPH each in Kharagprasad has also been completed.

To address the water scarcity in peak summer season, TSF provides drinking water through tankers to Joragadia, Khaliberana, Mangalpur, Kusupanga and Ganthigadia villages.

Apart from these initiatives, TSF also supplies drinking water through pipeline to seven adjacent villages of TSM plant throughout the year. All of these initiatives have provided safe drinking water to peripheral villages, benefiting a total population of around 20,000.

Anita Nayak, Sarpanch of Kusupanga panchayat, expressed her joy at the realisation of clean water access for her village, a transformation that has ended years of struggle for the community. Through these comprehensive initiatives, Tata Steel is not just addressing a necessity, but also fostering hope and progress.

About Tata Steel

·         Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum

·         It is one of the world's most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world

·         The group recorded a consolidated turnover of US $ 32.83 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2022

·         A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Limited, together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000

·         Tata Steel has announced its major sustainability objectives including Net Zero Carbon by 2045, Net Zero Water consumption by 2030, improving Ambient Air Quality and No Net loss in Biodiversity by 2030.

·         The Company has been on a multi-year digital-enabled business transformation journey intending to be the leader in ‘Digital Steel making by 2025’. The Company has received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar and IJmuiden Plants.

·   Tata Steel aspires to have 25% diverse workforce by 2025. The Company has been recognised with the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023

·         The Company has been a part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and has been consistently ranked amongst top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016

·      Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Plant is India’s first site to receive ResponsibleSteel^TM Certification

·         Received Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for five years in a row, and ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2021 from Ethisphere Institute

·         Recognised with 2022 ERM Global Award of Distinction, ‘Masters of Risk’ - Metals & Mining Sector recognition at The India Risk Management Awards for the sixth consecutive year, and Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting FY20 from ICAI, among several others