Amazon and ICRISAT Launch Groundwater Project in Maharashtra

Amazon, in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has announced a groundwater recharge initiative in the Vaitarna basin of Maharashtra. Backed by the Government of Maharashtra, the project is expected to become operational by 2027, with the goal of replenishing over 1.3 billion litres of groundwater annually.

Targeting the Palghar district, including villages like Abhitghar and Kabra, the initiative aims to enhance water availability for smallholder farmers and improve regional water security. The project will employ a combination of rainwater harvesting ponds, field bunding, drainage improvements, and soil erosion control measures to strengthen groundwater recharge, boost irrigation, and improve agricultural productivity.

The Vaitarna basin plays a critical role in supplying over 870 million litres of drinking water daily to Mumbai through the Lower Vaitarna and Tansa reservoirs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the project as a key step toward climate resilience and the sustainability of agro-ecosystems in the region.

According to ICRISAT, the project is expected to benefit around 700 farm families, with the potential to increase Rabi season household incomes by up to 80%. Scheduled to begin later this year, the two-year initiative supports both rural livelihoods and urban water security for Mumbai.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.