First-ever Amazon New Delhi project benefits local communities with infrastructure rehabilitation and construction of new water-saving structures
Chandigarh: Amazon is funding its first-ever water replenishment project in the Yamuna River watershed, upstream from New Delhi, tackling water scarcity and over-extraction of groundwater. This initiative adds to Amazon’s growing portfolio of water conservation projects across India, which already includes major lake restoration efforts and community water solutions benefiting over 1 million people since 2020. The project is expected to replenish more than 400 million litres of water annually once completed, and will help Amazon make progress toward its commitment to return more water to communities in India than it uses in its direct operations by 2027.
New Delhi faces significant water management challenges, with water supply issues impacting the daily lives of residents and operations of businesses throughout the capital region. Amazon’s project in New Delhi, featuring a groundwater recharge programme, was announced at Amazon’s inaugural Water Dialogues today. The event is a thought leadership initiative that puts together key stakeholders in the water industry, such as Ramveer Tanwar, The Pondman of India, Sheeba Sen, co-founder of Hasten Regeneration, Manoj Singh, Associate Director – Climate, Agriculture & Food Systems, The Nature Conservancy among others, to deliberate on challenges and initiatives regarding water as a scarce resource. The event also featured a keynote address by Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
The New Delhi water project, in cooperation with social enterprise and developer of ecosystem restoration projects, Hasten Regeneration, combines the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure—including check dams and ponds—with the construction of new water-saving structures, like percolation pits and recharge shafts. Additionally, planting vegetation around these structures can help to prevent erosion, increase the moisture in soil, and improve local landscapes. Sites will be selected within the Yamuna River watershed with the goal of maximizing direct benefits to New Delhi’s water security.
Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) said,“The inaugural Water Dialogues 2025 in Delhi marks an important step in advancing collaboration around India’s pressing water challenges. Amazon’s funding of its first water replenishment project in the Yamuna River watershed, expected to return more than 400 million litres of water annually is a commendable contribution. It reflects the growing recognition that water stewardship is a shared responsibility. We welcome this effort and see it as an opportunity to encourage greater private sector engagement in delivering inclusive, community-driven solutions, especially in water-stressed urban and peri-urban regions.”
“Our country faces critical water challenges, with groundwater levels in New Delhi declining at an alarming rate,” said Abhinav Singh, Vice President, Operations, Amazon India & Australia. “Our project with Hasten Regeneration focuses on revitalizing the Yamuna basin through strategic infrastructure rehabilitation and new construction. This watershed-level approach not only aims to capture monsoon runoff and replenishes critical aquifers but also empowers local communities as stewards of these vital resources. This initiative represents a significant step toward our goal to replenish more water than we use in India by 2027.”
