Cement Manufacturers Association

41 Businesses are impacted by and directly impact the quality and quantity of water resources through the production of goods and services, primarily through the consumption of water and discharge into shared water resources. Businesses can do this through investment and engagement with Government and civil society for the provision of water and sanitation (WASH) and the holistic management of water resources to meet social, economic and environmental needs. They can also protect and restore natural infrastructure that supports clean water provision. Our country is also suffering from the worst water crisis in its history. Currently, 2 lacs Indians die every year because they can’t access safe drinking water. The rising population threatens to put even more stress on the water supply. By 2030 demand for water will likely be double the available supply, causing water scarcity for millions. India has 16% of the world’s population and only 4% of the world’s water resources, which are depleting rapidly. The water demand is expected to grow from 40 billion cubic metres (bm3) currently to around 220 bm3 in 2025. Many cities in India are already facing water shortages due to reduced rainfall, man-made climatic changes, reduction in groundwater levels, population explosion, industrialization and a staggering amount of water wastage because of negligence by users & dilapidated water supply systems. The importance of water in a country’s economic growth should not be undermined. Water pollution, unavailability of drinking water, inadequate sanitation, open dumping of wastes, and loss of forest cover are some of the problems faced by many parts of India. The heavy toll of infant mortality due to waterborne diseases, the daily struggle for procuring water, mismanagement of wastewater, and improper sanitation are common features and are leading to serious consequences on Human Health and the Economy of the Country. Water resources are under severe pressure from climate change, population growth and rapid urbanisation. This situation demands immediate intervention in the management of these rapidly growing problems, especially through an integrated approach to water, sanitation and related issues. Companies can help the government to implement water schemes at the district and state levels at a faster rate and to focus on water use efficiency through reuse and recycling instead of groundwater extraction. The building materials sector requires water for the production of cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete, washing gravel and sand, slurry making, cooling, vehicle cleaning, etc. Additionally, water is a primary component of concrete, representing approximately 25% of the mixture. Therefore, cement companies need to put their water management strategies in place and most of them are targeting results by 2030. Various Water Conservation measures adopted by Indian Cement Plants At Birla Corporation Limited, we take substantial efforts when it comes to the responsible use of natural resources. We take cognizance of the water scarcity in different regions of our country and the interconnectedness of the water cycle with the impacts of climate change. We continuously monitor the water stress based on the Ground Water Assessments and hydrogeological studies and manage our water resources effectively as per our Business Responsibility Sustainability Report Policy. As water steward, we strive to minimise our impacts on freshwater sources while continually attempting to increase our water efficiency, both of which are guided by our environmental policy. Our water management strategies are focused on optimizing our water consumption, identifying alternative water sources and ensuring all our sites maintain Zero Liquid Discharge status. We strive to improve upon our water use efficiency by adopting innovative technologies and identifying and eliminating the losses in our system to the extent possible. India Trails the World in Water Availability 132 Rank in water availability 122 Rank in water quality 1,545 cubic metres Per capita avaliability 2.4 % Share of global land area 4 % Share of global resources 17 % Share of world population Source Water Resources Information System of India