'One Billion Drops' Campaign: 590 Percolation Wells to Be Constructed to Conserve Rainwater

CAR (City Armed Reserve) North, Karnataka State Reserved Police 9th Battalion, Centre for Counter-Terrorism, CAR Headquarters, and KSRP 1st Battalion are the five police campuses in Bengaluru where Mphasis and United Way Bengaluru officially announced the launch of the "One Billion Drops" campaign. All around these places, 590 percolation wells are going to be built this year. Bengaluru's Commissioner of Police, B Dayananda, was present at the ceremony and expressed his appreciation for the initiative's noteworthy contribution to the city's water sustainability.

The ‘One Billion Drops’ initiative addresses climate-change-related issues through percolation wells designed to capture rainwater at the point of impact. This approach reduces surface runoff, prevents floods, and conserves water by slowing its flow. The campaign is pivotal in restoring Bengaluru's water resources, replenishing groundwater, and maintaining soil moisture to support the city's green cover.

The Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, B. Dayananda, expressed his gratitude to Mphasis and United Way of Bengaluru for their proactive support in making police campuses water-neutral through their CSR initiatives. He praised their commitment to sustainability as a shining example of community policing and emphasized the importance of their partnership in ensuring a greener future for both personnel and the community. He concluded by thanking them for their invaluable contribution to this noble endeavor.

Deepa Nagaraj, Senior Vice President and Head – ESG & CSR, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem and Communications, stated that their ongoing partnership with United Way Bengaluru has empowered them to address global environmental challenges like climate change while also reviving the state's biodiversity. She highlighted the 'One Billion Drops' campaign as a powerful initiative in rainwater conservation and sustainability, demonstrating their commitment to a greener future.

Rajesh Krishnan, CEO of United Way Bengaluru, said that the 'One Billion Drops' campaign, rooted in a community-driven approach, is a scalable and replicable model for promoting ecological sustainability and resilience against climate change. He added that by harnessing the power of collaboration between corporate entities, NGOs, and government bodies, this initiative is setting a new standard for climate action and water conservation.

This initiative aligns seamlessly with the Prime Minister’s National Water Mission initiative, 'Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls.' Each percolation well can conserve up to 128,000 litres of rainwater annually, directly enhancing groundwater levels in their respective catchment areas.

Once known as the Garden City, Bengaluru now faces the harsh realities of India’s climate crisis, dealing with severe groundwater depletion, erratic rainfall, and a shrinking green cover. In response to these growing challenges, Mphasis, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, has partnered with United Way Bengaluru to drive an impactful campaign called 'One Billion Drops.'

Since 2022, Mphasis has supported the creation of 1,338 percolation wells across Bengaluru, including in major parks and the iconic Lalbagh Botanical Garden. These percolation wells can conserve approximately 175,284 kiloliters of rainwater annually, making a significant contribution to the city’s water resources and environmental health. These wells have benefitted 251,000 members of the community. In the coming years, the goal is to reach out to approximately 225,000 beneficiaries by creating 1200 wells by 2026.