HDFC Bank, through its CSR initiative Parivartan, marked World Water Day with a #WaterWonders digital campaign, highlighting the need for water conservation.
As part of its water management efforts, Parivartan has constructed over 14,360 water conservation structures across multiple states, including Ladakh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. These initiatives aim to improve water availability and build climate-resilient agriculture.
The projects focus on restoring degraded landscapes and ecosystems through check dams, gabion structures, improved irrigation infrastructure, and rainwater harvesting. Efforts also include drone-based irrigation, which reduces water consumption and enhances crop efficiency. By March 31, 2025, HDFC Bank Parivartan aims to bring two lakh acres of unirrigated land under irrigation.
One of Parivartan’s key initiatives is the Ice Stupa project in Ladakh, a region facing severe water shortages due to climate change. According to research from IIT Kanpur, glaciers in the Drass basin have thinned by 1.27 meters between 2000 and 2020, while precipitation has declined by 50% in some areas over the past two decades. Rising temperatures—up by 1.5°C over the past century—are further accelerating glacial melt, worsening water scarcity.
Nusrat Pathan, Head of CSR at HDFC Bank, stated “The Ice Stupas have proven to be an effective solution for water management in Ladakh. They provide a reliable water source and help communities cope with climate change. HDFC Bank Parivartan remains committed to supporting sustainable solutions that address water scarcity.”
Through these initiatives, HDFC Bank aims to strengthen water security, support agricultural communities, and promote sustainable water management practices.