The handover ceremony was held in the presence of Gajanan Patil, CEO, Zilla Parishad Pune, following a phased programme of water conservation and community-led interventions that began in 2024. The initiative marks Tetra Pak’s first social impact programme in India focused on water conservation.
The programme was developed following a landscape-level assessment of 188 villages across Khed Taluka. Of these, six villages were shortlisted for detailed assessment, and Pur and Rase were selected for implementation. The initiative combines the rejuvenation of water-harvesting structures with groundwater and rainfall monitoring, community participation and measures to improve local water management.
Gajanan Patil, CEO, Zilla Parishad Pune, said, “Addressing resource challenges requires collective effort from communities, government and the private sector. Pur and Rase have faced challenges around water availability, and initiatives such as this can make a meaningful difference at the local level. We appreciate the efforts of Tetra Pak and ADI in working with the communities to strengthen water security and create long-term impact.”
Implemented in phases since 2024, the programme began in Pur before expanding to Rase. The interventions increased the water-holding capacity in Pur from 11.16 million litres to 32.13 million litres, while capacity in Rase rose from 11.27 million litres to 26.76 million litres. The rejuvenated structures now have a combined water-holding capacity of 58.89 million litres, with an estimated annual groundwater recharge potential of 40.16 million litres in Pur and 33.45 million litres in Rase.
Together, the two villages have an estimated annual groundwater recharge potential of 73.61 million litres. The programme has also incorporated open-well recharge and rooftop rainwater harvesting to strengthen local groundwater recharge and improve the utilisation of available rainwater.
Cassio Simoes, Managing Director, Tetra Pak South Asia, said, “Chakan has been central to Tetra Pak’s journey in India, and with that comes a deep sense of responsibility towards the communities around us. For us, sustainability is about creating lasting value- not only through the way we operate, but also by helping strengthen the resilience of the communities and ecosystems we are part of. In Pur and Rase, we have taken a science-led, community-centred approach to water security, addressing both the availability and responsible management of this critical resource. As we hand over these assets to the community, we are reinforcing what has been fundamental to the programme from the outset: building local ownership so that the impact can endure well beyond the intervention itself.”
Community participation has remained central to the programme, which extends beyond water infrastructure to livelihood development and environmental awareness. The initiative has mobilised 61 women through six self-help groups, providing training and guidance in livelihood skills, including stitching and soap making.
School awareness sessions have also engaged students on water conservation, plantation, environmental awareness and the responsible use of local resources. Overall, the programme has conducted 23 training, awareness and community activities, recording more than 830 cumulative participations. These activities are intended to strengthen local capacity and ownership and support the long-term sustainability of the interventions.
Sarang Kulkarni, Hydrogeologist, Alternative Development Initiatives (ADI), said, “The IWRDM Programme has been shaped by understanding the local groundwater conditions, existing water resources and the needs of the communities in Pur and Rase. Along with rejuvenation of the village water-harvesting structures, interventions such as open-well recharge and rooftop rainwater harvesting are helping strengthen local recharge and improve the use of available rainwater. The rejuvenated structures have increased the combined water-holding capacity by more than 36 million litres, with an estimated annual groundwater recharge potential of 73.61 million litres. Regular groundwater and rainfall monitoring is helping us better understand seasonal water availability, while our work with farmers, women’s SHGs, youth and schoolchildren is building awareness, skills and local ownership. The next phase will further strengthen this through seasonal water budgeting, farmer capacity building and drip-irrigation pilots, helping communities use water more efficiently and sustain these benefits over the long term.”
The next phase of the IWRDM Programme will focus on consolidating the gains made in Pur and Rase through continued groundwater monitoring, community stewardship, livelihood initiatives and school-based interventions. Strengthening agricultural water efficiency will also be a priority, with 20 drip-irrigation pilots planned for 2026–27. These will be supported by seasonal water budgeting and farmer capacity building to encourage more efficient water use.
The handover places the rejuvenated water assets under community stewardship, reinforcing the programme’s emphasis on local participation in sustaining water conservation efforts. The initiative also adds to Tetra Pak’s growing portfolio of sustainability initiatives in India across climate, circularity and community impact, translating the company’s global sustainability ambitions into locally relevant action and measurable impact.
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