Jamshedpur, October 9, 2026: Tata Steel Foundation has been conferred with the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2026, securing the Winner position in the Beyond the Fence category for its Kalinganagar Integrated Watershed Management and Climate Change Adaptation Project.

The watershed project is located within the catchment of the Brahmani River Basin and covers a total geographical area of 3,270.87 hectares across 12 villages and nine Gram Panchayats in the Danagadi and Sukinda blocks of Jajpur district, Odisha. The initiative was designed to address challenges such as rainfall dependency, land degradation, low farm productivity, and livelihood insecurity affecting rural communities.

Through a comprehensive ridge-to-valley watershed management approach, the project has brought an additional 207 hectares under irrigation, treated 427 hectares of land, improved the groundwater table by approximately one metre below ground level, and restored 143 hectares of uncultivable land for productive agricultural use over a period of four years. The project has also enhanced livelihoods through the promotion of sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, and community-led natural resource management. These interventions have resulted in a 33.13% increase in average annual household income over baseline levels, positively impacting 4,820 lives, predominantly from marginalised communities.

In recognition of these impactful outcomes and Tata Steel Foundation's commitment to community-led water stewardship, the initiative received national acclaim at the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2026. The award ceremony was attended by Dr Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State for Jal Shakti; Rajeev Kumar Mittal, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG); and D. Senthil, Joint Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, among other distinguished policymakers and sector leaders. Tata Steel Foundation was represented by Debdoot Mohanty, COO, Tata Steel Foundation; Anant Singh, Head - Agriculture; and other officials from the Foundation.

Sharing his thoughts, Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation, said: “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of communities and the dedication and technical capability of our teams in addressing water and livelihood challenges in Kalinganagar. Looking ahead, we aim to build on these efforts to strengthen water security, support resilient rural livelihoods and contribute to sustainable development for generations to come.”

This national recognition reaffirms the Foundation's commitment to developing sustainable and scalable solutions that address water-related challenges while strengthening community resilience. The Foundation continues to work closely with local institutions, government agencies, and community stakeholders to promote participatory water governance and long-term environmental sustainability.