MUMBAI, MARCH 21, 2026: On the occasion of World Water Day, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), guided by its ESG+ framework of Paathya, advances its commitment to water stewardship. Recognising water as a shared and increasingly constrained resource, IHCL’s approach extends beyond operational efficiency within its hotels to long‑term conservation initiatives in water‑stressed regions.
Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, IHCL, said, “At IHCL, our approach to sustainability is embedded in our approach to long‑term value creation through our ESG+ framework of Paathya. Water stewardship reflects a conscious choice to align business growth with the responsible management of natural resources in the destinations we operate in. We believe progress must be accompanied by deliberate actions that restore and strengthen ecological systems. By aligning our growth with conservation efforts and community‑led initiatives, we aim to embed sustainability into destination development.”
In Gujarat, IHCL, in partnership with Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), is addressing water stress in the Rupen River macro‑watershed across Una and Gir Gadhada talukas of Gir Somnath district, where groundwater depletion and salinity ingress have affected agrarian livelihoods and economic stability in the area. The partnership focuses on watershed‑level solutions that leverage the recharge potential of the Rupen River catchment, extending from the Gir Forest to the Arabian Sea, through community‑led rainwater harvesting, revival of traditional water bodies and targeted ecosystem restoration across 30 villages covering approx. 20,000 hectares. By improving surface and groundwater availability, strengthening soil moisture, reducing salinity and increasing vegetation cover, the project aims to enhance water security for marginal and landless farmers, enable more stable rural livelihoods, reduce distress migration and build long‑term ecological resilience, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 13, 15 and 17. The success of this initiative, led to the scaling of water conservation initiatives across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. In addition to this project, we have initiated another project with ACF- Integrated Water Resource Development and Management project for Climate Resilience and Livelihood Enhancement in aspirational Naswadi Block of Chhota Udepur district, Gujarat
Through National Agro Foundation (NAF), IHCL’s Watershed Conservation Project in Chengalpattu district in Tamil Nadu aims to build a self-reliant and sustainable rural ecosystem in the villages through a focused emphasis to restore and rejuvenate local water bodies, enhance groundwater recharge and improve the efficient use of available water resources. In the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka, IHCL along with Environment Association Bangalore (EAB) supports rainwater harvesting at Karnataka Public School, Mandikal, improving water access and reducing pressure on groundwater resources as well as the restoration of the stone-stepped water body at Temple Kalyani at Hosahalli.
IHCL’s water conservation initiatives across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka aims to achieve a combined recharge and potential savings of more than 50 lakh cubic metres of water over a three-year period. Through these interventions, Paathya continues to integrate environmental responsibility with community well‑being, reinforcing IHCL’s commitment to responsible tourism.
