Anandana, S M Sehgal Foundation Win CII National Award for Water Stewardship in Medak

Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation, in partnership with the S M Sehgal Foundation, has been honored at the 20th CII National Awards for Excellence in Water Management 2026 in the “Beyond the Fence” category. The national accolade recognizes their community-led water stewardship project, “Sustainable Access to Safe Water,” implemented across seven villages in the Shivampet mandal of Medak district, Telangana, from January 2024 to March 2025.

Water Infrastructure Expansion and Agricultural Impact:
The collaborative initiative restored 15 traditional village tanks, creating approximately 205 million litres of combined water storage and groundwater recharge potential. The project successfully excavated 2.04 lakh cubic metres of silt—equivalent to roughly 82 Olympic-size swimming pools—which was distributed to 150 individual farmers and three community groups to enrich agricultural land. In total, the project enhanced water security for more than 15,000 residents, secured agricultural livelihoods across 1,535 acres of farmland, executed tank desilting and bund strengthening, planted 500 saplings, and established local Tank User Groups for sustained community maintenance.

Corporate and Foundation Leadership Perspectives:
Highlighting the collaborative effort, Devyani Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, stated that the recognition reflects their shared commitment to improving local water availability and building resilience in water-stressed regions through traditional tank restoration and community ownership. Ms. Anjali Makhija, Trustee and CEO of S M Sehgal Foundation, added that working alongside village institutions to rejuvenate water bodies, establish Tank User Groups, and reuse nutrient-rich silt on farmlands ensures local communities take an active, long-term role in managing their water resources.

Alignment with the ‘Tarang’ Campaign:
The success of the Medak project reflects the underlying philosophy of “Tarang,” an initiative by Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation that brings together diverse water stewardship efforts across the country. Through Tarang, Anandana focuses on locally relevant solutions that address regional water requirements, improve community access, support agricultural livelihoods, and build long-term water security.