New Delhi: Amazon has launched a water replenishment project in the Yamuna basin aimed at addressing Delhi’s groundwater depletion. The initiative, undertaken in partnership with Hasten Regeneration, will focus on recharging over 400 million litres of water annually through watershed interventions.
Announced during Amazon’s Water Dialogues 2025 event in New Delhi, the project includes rehabilitating existing infrastructure and building new recharge systems such as percolation pits and recharge shafts. The Delhi NCR region has recorded a continuous decline in groundwater levels, driven by urban expansion, unregulated extraction and insufficient recharge mechanisms.
This marks Amazon’s first project of its kind in the Yamuna River watershed and aligns with its stated goal of replenishing more water than it consumes in India by 2027. The company will implement the project in collaboration with Hasten Regeneration, Clear Water Dynamics, and Arpan Seva Sansthan, a 2023 National Water Award recipient.
Policy Backing and Expert Involvement
The project launch saw the participation of policymakers and domain experts, including NITI Aayog’s Yugal Joshi and water conservationist Anand Malligawad. Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil, acknowledged the effort as one that complements government-led initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission and highlights the role of private sector contributions to national water goals.
However, the effort is framed as part of broader collective action rather than standalone corporate responsibility. “It reflects the growing recognition that water stewardship is a shared responsibility,” said Patil.
Site Selection Based on Impact
According to Amazon India’s Vice President of Operations, Abhinav Singh, the project sites will be chosen based on their strategic location within the Yamuna basin to maximise water retention. The focus will remain on long-term hydrological impact and building community involvement in maintaining these interventions.
“This initiative blends traditional knowledge with modern hydrological science,” said Sheeba Sen, Co-founder of Hasten Regeneration. She added that the approach aims to engage communities not just as beneficiaries but as active participants in water management.
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