Award Recognition
Anandana – The Coca‑Cola India Foundation, in partnership with S M Sehgal Foundation, was honoured at the 20th CII National Awards for Excellence in Water Management 2026, winning in the “Beyond the Fence” category.
Project Overview
The collaborative “Sustainable Access to Safe Water” initiative was implemented from January 2024 through March 2025 across seven villages in Shivampet mandal, Medak district, Telangana. The programme restored 15 traditional village tanks, creating approximately 205 million litres of water storage and groundwater recharge potential.
Impact on Communities and Agriculture
The water‑security improvements directly benefit more than 15,000 residents and support agricultural activities on 1,535 acres of farmland. During tank desilting, 2.04 lakh cubic metres (204,000 m³) of nutrient‑rich silt – equivalent to about 82 Olympic‑size swimming pools – were extracted and redistributed to 150 individual farmers and three group or community beneficiaries, enhancing soil health and long‑term water management. Additionally, 500 saplings were planted to further bolster ecosystem resilience.
Community Engagement and Governance
The project established Tank User Groups to foster local ownership and routine maintenance of the rejuvenated water bodies. It also leveraged the “Tarang” campaign, an Anandana initiative that aggregates diverse water‑related actions to address regional water challenges.
Leadership Statements
Devyani Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca‑Cola India & South West Asia, expressed humility at the award and highlighted the collaborative effort, community‑led maintenance, and sapling planting as key to improving local water availability.
Anjali Makhija, Trustee and CEO of S M Sehgal Foundation, emphasized the importance of tank restoration for local water challenges, the role of village institutions, and the reuse of silt as a critical component of sustainable agriculture.
Future Outlook
Both Anandana and S M Sehgal Foundation intend to continue their partnership to further improve water availability and support the communities dependent on these resources, reinforcing the objectives of the “Tarang” campaign.