United Breweries Limited (UBL), in partnership with WaterAid India, has completed a Safe Drinking Water Project in West Bengal’s Nadia district, providing improved access to safe drinking water to more than 6,000 people across six villages in Kalyani block.
The project includes eight solar-powered community drinking water systems, each with a 5,000-litre storage capacity and equipped with arsenic and iron removal technology. The infrastructure was formally handed over to the respective Gram Panchayats, marking the transition of responsibility for its management and maintenance to local institutions.
Groundwater arsenic contamination had affected access to safe drinking water in the project villages, with several households previously travelling long distances or bearing additional costs to meet their daily needs. The initiative also trained 42 women in system operations, maintenance and water quality monitoring.
Garima Singh, Director Corporate Affairs, UBL, said the project aimed to create reliable infrastructure while enabling communities to take ownership. WaterAid India’s Vikas Kataria said community participation and local capacity-building were crucial for ensuring sustainable access to safe drinking water.
In Nadia, the project highlights the growing importance of corporate and development-sector investment in essential rural infrastructure. Improved access to safe water can reduce household expenditure and travel time while strengthening local capacity, potentially contributing to better community productivity and long-term socio-economic development in the district.