CIPT conducted an Action Learning Project sponsored by Global Agri-Business Alliance (GAA) and Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to identify key issues and areas for achieving water stewardship at the Phoenix Global Limited plant located in Tarori, Karnal, Haryana. The study aimed to undertake a scoping exercise to assess the current water use trends, identify and map out the key stakeholders and their level of influence, shared water- related risks, challenges and opportunities at the unit and watershed level of the catchment of Taraori unit. The study also aimed to develop water stewardship plan following the global framework of AWS  standard and explore the possibility of stakeholder engagement for water stewardship in the region.

CIPT in collaboration with InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) underttook an action learning project to kick-start IHG’s journey of water stewardship in India. The project followed the framework of AWS standards v2.0 to carry out the study.

The AWS Standard is intended to drive water stewardship, which is defined as the use of water that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that involves site and catchment-based actions.

The project aimed to help IHG to understand water risks, its impact on the facilities and how it can work collaboratively and transparently with other stakeholders including communities, government and other companies in the catchment to mitigate water risks. The objective of the project was  to develop a water stewardship strategy for IHG group in India by understanding shared water risks and opportunities and robust stakeholder engagement programmes.

Both the study examined the long-term trends in water supply and demand in the selected region; identify the nature of water stress and outline a list of interventions based on scientific assessment, stakeholder interactions and economic considerations.