Tata Steel and StanChart Launch Watershed Project in Jharkhand

1500 households to benefit from soil and water conservation initiative in Noamundi

Tata Steel Foundation and Standard Chartered Bank partner to implement watershed and climate proofing project in West Singhbhum.

JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel Foundation and Standard Chartered Bank announce collaboration on watershed project in Noamundi Block, West Singhbhum.

The Integrated Watershed and Climate Proofing Project, launched on August 23, aims to conserve soil and water resources while enhancing the socio-economic status of 1500 households across 15 villages in the Noamundi Block of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand.

This initiative aligns with Standard Chartered Bank’s sustainability interventions, particularly its WASHE programme, which addresses water scarcity and sanitation issues in 11 Indian states.

The project’s key objectives include educating communities on water harvesting and conservation techniques, implementing soil conservation measures, and engaging farming families in climate-resilient agriculture.

Over the next three years, the programme plans to treat 1500 hectares with various soil and moisture conservation techniques and create 19.43 million cubic feet of water storage capacity.

"We believe in co-creating lasting solutions through deliberations that lead us to combat challenges in effective ways with communities," said Sourav Roy, CEO of Tata Steel Foundation.

Roy emphasized the project’s focus on water conservation as a central theme for sustainability, agriculture, and ecological balance.

The initiative aims to increase the annual income of 1500 farming families by INR 1 Lakh and convert 656 acres of land into irrigated land.

Additionally, seven Village Watershed Committees will be formed to plan and execute watershed activities, with the goal of increasing groundwater levels by 2 to 3 meters.

Karuna Bhatia, Head of Sustainability at Standard Chartered Bank and Global Business Services, India, highlighted the transformative potential of this partnership.

"This collaboration is a powerful example of how partnerships can drive transformative change," Bhatia stated, emphasizing the project’s alignment with the bank’s commitment to sustainable development.

The project is expected to have a significant impact on water management, soil conservation, and community engagement in the region, addressing the Sustainable Development Goal of clean water and sanitation.