Author : Dr Manoj K M Chaturvedi
Greetings from Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. (HCC)!
Since its inception in 1926, Hindustan Construction Company has been a pioneer in the Indian engineering and construction sector, having executed some of the largest and most technically challenging infrastructure projects in the country. Our Company’s history is inextricably linked with India’s nation-building endeavour. We being a construction company are committed to create responsible infrastructure. We intend to embed sustainability not only in the structure but also in to the operation of those structures as well as in the process of constructing them.
HCC recognizes the correlation of business sustainability with water resource management and is committed to reduce the amount of water used across our construction project sites; especially in regions where water availability is already in pressure. HCC’s water consciousness is elucidated in HCC’s Mission: “To contribute and actively participate in the UN CEO Water Mandate”.
Aiming at and maintaining our commitment towards building responsible infrastructure, we have endorsed various UNGC initiatives including the CEO Water Mandate & Caring for Climate, which have essentially helped us to realize our future sustainability goals in relatively better way. HCC, the first Indian Company to endorse United Nations Global Compact’s “The CEO Water Mandate”, makes a point to embed the principles of water resources management in our work. As a responsible corporate steward, HCC has always been motivating other companies, to join this initiative by presenting best practices of water stewardship at HCC in various local, regional, national, and international conferences and symposia. Such moves are crucial in bringing about inclusive development for the nation, in general, and in developing sustainable infrastructure, in particular. At HCC we not only follow BEST Practices but follow NEXT Practices.
Over the years of implementing the CEO Water Mandate at our project sites, we have been able to optimize utilization of water leading to enhancement of our ability to conserve the precious freshwater, on one hand, and minimization of carbon footprint for resourcing and pumping the freshwater to our construction site, on another hand. With these experiences and continual engagement in various UNGC initiative, in general, and CEO Water Mandate secretariat dialogue, in particular; we have been translating our experiences in advocacy document and presenting them to various public forums including but not limited to national/international conferences, skill building workshops for water manager’s round table discussions with key water & environmental stakeholders etc. and we will continue to do that as HCC’s contribution to global fresh water resource management aspects.
HCC continues to support the United Nations Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate initiative and we, therefore, have been working and will continue to work with our all stakeholders (internal as well as external stakeholders) to promote water consciousness, internalize water efficiency in business decisions, and develop strategies for development of sustainable infrastructure by ensuring implementation of appropriate approaches for 4 Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and Recharge at all our direct operations and within HCC’s sphere of influence and reporting on progress made during the reporting period.
The Water COPs 2009 & 2010 as well as Water COP 2011 (integrated in Sustainability report for enhanced inclusiveness, which was assured by Third Party and was in compliance with GRI reporting criteria under Application Level A+) has been attached for the reader's reference / opinion / guidance / comment for continual improvement in the outcome of our initiatives.
UN Global Compact Report released at Rio +20 Conference featured HCC as only Indian company amongst ten global company case studies for its water initiatives. A copy of the same is also being attached for the reader's reference / opinion / guidance / comment for continual improvement in the outcome of our initiatives.
Looking forward to your expert opinion.
(For more details, contact:
Dr. Manoj K. M. Chaturvedi, Deputy General Manager –CSR – UN Water Mandate
Hindustan Construction Company Ltd.
Hincon House, 247Park, LBS Marg, Vikhroli West, Mumbai 400 083)