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Coca-Cola India partnered with FORCE (a Delhi-based NGO engaged in raising awareness on management of water resources) and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an industry association to organize a seminar on Rainwater Harvesting: Socio-Economic Benefits of Creating Water Security on 27th Sep, 2005. Mr. K.N.Memani, Chairman, PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry presided over the seminar.

The panelists and participants at the well-attended seminar discussed a wide range of aspects pertaining to creation of water security for the communities and represented a cross-section of stakeholders, including policy makers, bureaucrats, scientists and community leaders, Corporates (members of PHDCC) and users (residents).

Mr. Rajshekhar, Commissioner, Ground Water, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, shared his with expertise and experience with the audience and presented a few case studies on the successes achieved by communities through scientific intervention.

Mr. Subhash Chander, Chief Engineer of Delhi Jal Board (the utility company that provides water to the city of Delhi) called for an urgent need to harvest rainwater for meeting the growing demands from the local communities. He also suggested some practical steps to start RWH besides giving details of Government subsidies and process to avail the same.

The Company was invited to share its views on the roles that corporates can play. Company’s presentation drew from the Coca-Cola’s rewarding experience in working with communities and shared with stakeholders’ details of a few recent projects undertaken by the Company in partnership with communities and respective State Governments. The Company’s initiatives were highly appreciated by all the participants and delegates and many of them asked for more details about the various RWH programmes being undertaken by the Company.