Tag: DS Group rainwater harvesting impact in Madhya Pradesh

A 2.5-year assessment by GRIHA places the group among India’s top water-responsible companies with a 1.8 Index

The DS Group has been officially certified as Water Positive by the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), registering a Water Positivity Index of 1.80. The certification follows a detailed 2.5-year evaluation of the company’s operations and water conservation efforts across 30 Indian locations. With over 66 lakh kilolitres of water conserved and stored, the group has emerged as one of the country’s most water-responsible corporations.
Founded in 1929, DS Group has steadily expanded its sustainability commitments alongside its FMCG and infrastructure portfolio. This new certification reaffirms its position as a leader in long-term resource stewardship. The Water Positive Index of 1.80 indicates that the group replenishes significantly more water than it consumes.

This milestone is the result of a dual-track strategy combining in-plant conservation methods with community water management projects. Within its manufacturing units, the company has deployed systems for water-efficient processes, reuse and recycling technologies, and rainwater harvesting infrastructure. Simultaneously, through its CSR arm, the group has undertaken large-scale water rejuvenation projects, particularly in the water-stressed regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The GRIHA evaluation, which is widely recognised as one of India’s most rigorous environmental assessment systems, tracked both the input-output water balance at DS Group’s facilities and the broader community impact of its projects. Certification by GRIHA further lends technical and institutional credibility to the group’s efforts.

Notably, the company’s work has been deeply focused in regions where groundwater tables are severely threatened. Over the last few years, DS Group has helped revive over 100 traditional water bodies, built check dams, and constructed rainwater recharge structures across several rural districts. These projects have benefitted both agriculture and household access to safe water, aligning the company’s goals with the national Jal Shakti Mission.
A spokesperson from DS Group stated that achieving water positivity is not the end goal but a baseline for future interventions. “We believe that water sustainability is central to climate resilience and local livelihoods. This certification is a validation of years of collective work by our teams and partner communities,” the spokesperson noted.

India’s corporate sector has increasingly turned its focus to natural resource accountability, with water becoming a key metric of ESG performance. While several large corporations have adopted internal reporting mechanisms, few have undergone third-party certification at the scale and depth demonstrated by DS Group.
Water Positive status ensures that a company gives back more water than it draws through a combination of operational efficiencies and externally verifiable projects. The DS Group’s Water Positivity Index of 1.80 places it firmly above industry benchmarks.
As climate shifts and regional water stress continue to pose systemic risks to businesses, such models offer a blueprint for future-ready, responsible growth. DS Group’s approach reinforces the principle that economic progress and ecological balance must go hand in hand.

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