Everything about the Yamuna is complex, especially in Delhi—not just regarding the monumental challenges it has faced, but also the stakeholders (both government bodies and corporate firms) involved in solving the national capital's water problem, the latest being Amazon India.
The multinational e-commerce firm has committed to returning 400 million litres of water to the Yamuna annually, in a bid to recharge groundwater levels. The water replenishment project was announced on Thursday at Amazon's inaugural Water Dialogues in New Delhi, an announcement that coincided with World Environment Day.
"The project is about artificial rejuvenation by using scientific processes. For example, trenching to ensure more water is retained, and increasing the size of the riverbed where water retention happens during the rainfall. So there are known scientific methods to direct water back into the ground, and then it's measured to ensure that the groundwater table rises over a period of time," said Abhinav Singh, vice president, operations at Amazon India & Australia.
This project is in line with Amazon's greater commitment to return more water than it uses in India by 2027. It has tied up with ecosystem restoration firm Hasten Regeneration for its water replenishment project in Delhi.
"Our project with Hasten Regeneration focuses on revitalising the Yamuna basin through strategic infrastructure rehabilitation and new construction. This watershed-level approach not only aims to capture monsoon run-off and replenish critical aquifers, but also empowers local communities as stewards of these vital resources," Singh added.
This project also sees Hasten Regeneration collaborating with Arpan Seva Sansthan, a non-governmental organisation and the winner of India’s ‘National Water Award’ in 2023, as well as a Bengaluru-based consultancy firm Clear Water Dynamics that specialises in water engineering infrastructure projects.
“This collaborative action is exactly what New Delhi needs to help address its water crisis. By blending traditional wisdom with scientific rigour, we're building both water systems and community resilience,” explained Hasten Regeneration co-founder Sheeba Sen.
“Our aim is to ensure Amazon’s funding is at its catalytic best, inviting communities as active participants and not just beneficiaries. The 400 million litres we expect to replenish annually represents a vital lifeline for communities across the Yamuna watershed," she added.
Along with the abysmal state of the river Yamuna in Delhi, the larger national capital region has witnessed a sharp dip in groundwater levels, a crisis that has worsened due to rapid urbanisation, lack of adequate recharge mechanisms, and over-extraction.
