Tata Steel Foundation Constructs 243 Ponds in Five Years, Creating Permanent Water Assets in Kalinganagar
- A green initiative for the local ecosystem
- To support groundwater recharge and irrigation for farmland across 28 panchayats
Kalinganagar, December 21, 2025: Transformative sustainable development for local villages is underway in the Kalinganagar region, spearheaded by the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF). Through a comprehensive and sustained effort, TSF has significantly enhanced the region’s water infrastructure by developing 243 new ponds over the last five years. This initiative marks a substantial investment in creating permanent water assets, ensuring long-term water security and boosting agricultural potential for thousands of families across 28 Gram Panchayats through these Water Harvesting Structures (WHS) in the Kalinganagar region.
This initiative has been carefully distributed across the Danagadi and Sukinda blocks of Jajpur district. TSF has successfully created 139 water harvesting ponds in Danagadi block, complementing the construction of 104 ponds in the Sukinda block. Strategically designed, these ponds maximize rainwater capture and retention, serving as vital reservoirs that directly contribute to increased groundwater recharge and provide reliable irrigation resources, particularly crucial for sustaining crops during dry spells.
Our efforts in building these essential water assets stem from a profound commitment to Kalinganagar’s ecosystem and its people. Beyond the physical structures, it’s about nurturing a sustainable future, fostering ecological balance, and enabling our local communities to thrive with brighter prospects. We are truly moved to see the tangible, positive transformation in communities’ lives and livelihoods, which strengthens our resolve for inclusive growth and environmental care,” said Debanjan Mukherjee, Head, Kalinganagar Impact Cluster, Tata Steel Foundation. “In the current fiscal year alone, TSF has already completed 59 new ponds, with 27 in Danagadi and 32 in Sukinda,” he added.
Siddheswar Jamuda, a farmer from Patapur village, shares how he once depended solely on a single annual paddy crop. But since Tata Steel Foundation constructed ponds in the area, his farming has transformed. With a reliable water supply, he now grows seasonal vegetables alongside paddy, earning significantly higher profits. Additionally, the community is now maximizing its resources by engaging in fish and duck farming, while utilizing pond embankments to grow lemons, bananas, and other vegetables.
Naresh Shuddha from Phuljhar village says, “Earlier, water scarcity confined us to paddy cultivation, resulting in a meager annual income of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. Following recent water conservation and irrigation interventions, farmers have diversified their crops and experienced significant financial improvement, with annual earnings now rising to ₹70,000 to ₹1,00,000.”
Through the thoughtful establishment of these 243 vital surface water sources, the Tata Steel Foundation is working alongside local farmers to foster greater water security for their crops and daily needs, while gently easing the pressures of water scarcity and its ecological impact across the Danagadi and Sukinda blocks. This collaborative endeavor truly reflects TSF’s deep commitment to nurturing a vibrant, sustainable, and prosperous future, hand-in-hand with the communities in and around the Kalinganagar region.
