ITC’s water conservation programme, therefore, specially focused on enabling its Units achieve a significant reduction in the specific consumption of water (water consumption per unit of production).

As a result of these efforts, the Company’s Tribeni Unit in West Bengal was able to reduce its fresh water consumption by 28%. The Paperboard Unit in Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh reduced its fresh water intake, per tonne of paperboard manufactured, to 76 kilolitres from 79 kilolitres.

The current production at the Bhadrachalam Paperboard Unit is 48% higher than the production level in 1998–99. But in spite of this increase in production, fresh water intake has actually come down by 6% in the same period.
The application of the latest technologies, a high level of environmental awareness and advanced water management techniques are some of the factors that have contributed to this achievement.

ITC continued its efforts to enhance the rainwater harvesting potential, both within its own Units and in socially important watershed projects. The total rainwater harvesting potential created by the Company exceeded the net consumption by all ITC Units, as reported here.