Reaffirming its goals on Reduce, Reuse and Replenish water and continue with its commitment towards Water Stewardship and Water Management, The Coca-Cola System in India commenced the celebrations for the International World Water Day with great enthusiasm and zeal. The fortnight long celebrations started in Barabanki with Brindavan Bottlers Limited and Amrit Bottlers Private Limited in partnership with the World Vision, AFPRO and the local community, together restoring 20 rainwater harvesting ponds to create sustainable water resources for this deprived region. The project that was initiated in 2009, was dedicated to the people of Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. The renovated ponds were dedicated by Vikas Gothalwal, District Magistrate - Barabanki in presence of Arun Thomas, Group Executive – Public Engagement World Vision, L. D. Ladhani, Managing Director, Amrit Bottlers Pvt Ltd, M. D. Ladhani, Managing Director, Brindavan Bottlers Ltd, Vikas Chawla Vice President, Coca-Cola India, community members and senior leadership of Coca-Cola India. In Nabipur, Kandhari Beverages Pvt Ltd. organized a program on laser leveling on 17th March 2011. Laser leveling is a technique used to level the agricultural land with the help of computerized laser land leveler, which helps in optimal water utilization and less wastage of water. The event witnessed active participation from over 70 farmers who displayed great interest in understanding the benefits of laser levelling. The initiative was attended by Mr. Arun Sharma, Franchise Manager , Coca-Cola India, Mr. Jarnail Singh of Nambardar Village Nabipur who went on to brief the farmers about the benefits of laser levelling citing examples from his personal experience . He added that as per the study of Punjab Agriculture University, one acre laser leveled land consumed 200 m3 less water for irrigation. In Andhra Pradesh, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages in partnership with the Acharya Nagarjuna University dedicated a 600,000 kilolitre rainwater harvesting project to the community. The project consists of 22 recharge pits and injection wells to harvest rainwater. In Bhopal, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Coca-Cola India dedicated SOS children's village Rain Water Harvesting project at Pipalani. The Rain water harvesting project has a potential to harvest 6,43,91,000 liters per annum of rainwater annually at normal rainfall. The project was dedicated to the community in the presence of representatives of SOS Children's Villages of India and other stakeholders of the facility. The project was inaugurated by Mr. Durgesh Telang, Area Operation Director, Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. Also, present at the event were Dr. Sanjeev Singh, SOS Bhopal Village Director, Mr. Neeraj Goel, Factory Manager, HCCBPL Bhopal, Mr. Pankaj Kumar Shrivastav, Unit HR team, Bhopal, Ms. Siddhi Gharat, PAC Executive other committee members and around 50 children of the SOS Children's Village. HCCB Pune in association with Sevasadan Society inaugurated the Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) project, on 22nd March at the Sevasadan Society English Medium School in Pune. A unique endeavor, this Rain Water Harvesting project is housed inside the school premises of Pune Sevasadan Society English Medium School. The structure would be collecting rooftop rainwater and storm water drains, covering an area of 1675 sq m. The recharge potential of the plant is estimated at approximate 1.7 million litres per annum. Vishal Khithani, AOD HCCB, ROM inaugurated the project in presence of plant officials, Rain Water Harvesting Consultants, NGO representatives, other stakeholders like Pollution Control Board etc.Students of primary classes organized an exhibition on Water & Energy conservation which was appreciated by the guests, over 200 students participated in the WWD celebrations and awareness drive. HCCB Goblej Unit celebrated the World Water Day by organising an awareness program along with drawing & slogan competition, amongst 250 students from ten schools of Kheda Taluka. The week-long WWD Campaign which started from 22nd March displayed WWD banners & posters besides drawing & slogan competition on themes like "Clean Water for a Healthy World" & "Water Conservation" Goblej unit team delivered presentation on Save Water awareness campaign in primary schools of Goblej, Kazipura & Kanera villages. Save Water presentations also comprised of short films, facts & figures to sensitize the children towards the need to conserve water. HCCB, Wada Unit celebrated the World Water Day by organizing awareness lecture by HCCB associates along with drawing, essay & poster competition in Zilla Parishad School at Kudus village. Around 100 students participated enthusiastically in the event which was much appreciated by the schools and the community members. Harshad Pathak, QA Manager, Santosh Darne, PA&C & R.S Joshi HR Team led the event and distributed the prizes to the winners Superior Drinks Pvt. Ltd., Nagpur, observed the WWD by organizing a plant visit for about 50 students of ST. Xavier High School, Nagpur. The celebration comprised of activities like quiz competition and painting competition on the theme of water conservation. The events were led by the General Manager Sanjeev Saraf, Quality Manager Rajesh Dhote, Plant Manager Pramod Bhardwaj & Finance Manager Sanjay Jha, HR Manager PS Chauhan The event was instrumental in creating awareness among the young minds on aspects related to water conservation In Nandakumarpur, Mathuran and Sundarban, West Bengal, Diamond Beverages along with partner NGO Sabuj Sangha, organized an awareness campaign based on the importance of water conservation. The campaign was led by senior Plant representatives like Siddhartha Guhathakurtha and Arijit Mitra. To generate awareness about water conservation , a drawing competition was organized for students of classes 4, 5 and 6 at Sabuj Sangha school. Over 60 students enthusiastically participated in the competition. A special awareness drive, led by student, women and associates of Coca-Cola was also organized to spread the message of water conservation and highlight the various water Stewardship initiatives undertaken by Coca-Cola India in the villages. Apart from organizing a drawing competition for students, the Taratala Unit also organized a Slogan Competition for the employees based on the theme "DON'T MISUSE, DO REUSE, SAVE WATER IT WILL SAVE YOU LATER". In addition as special Scheme on 'WATER SAVING' was also introduced to the employees. The Brindavan Unit in UP celebrated the World Water Day by organizing a Tree Plantation drive which involved planting of 20 saplings in the Plant premises by the students of Subash Adarsh Vidalya . A Slogan and Painting Competition followed by the screening of video on Water Conservation was also organized for the students. During the plant visit, the chief guest, Mr M.P.Yadav, Manager, Bank of India presented his views on 'Water Conservation' and also distributed the prizes to the winners of the painting competition. The Ludhiana Unit in Gunachor, Banga, Distt Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, celebrated WWD by organizing as special lecture by Mr Dharamveer Singh, Soil Conservation Officer, Punjab . In addition, a field demonstration of Laser Levelling, Micro Irrigation (Drip Irrigation) was also organized for the farmers of the three districts. They were informed about the several benefits of laser levelling and Drip Irrigation which included water conservation, improved yield, Inter cropping, control of weeds, quality improvement of the yield etc. HCCB, Orissa dedicated SOS children's village Rain Water Harvesting project at Rourkela, Orissa on 23rd March, 2011. This project takes forward the nationwide partnership between SOS Children's Villages of India. The Rain water harvesting project has a potential to harvest 71,00,000 liters per annum of rainwater annually at normal rainfall. The project was dedicated to the community in the presence of representatives of SOS Children's Villages of India and other stakeholders of the facility. The project was inaugurated by Mr. Badrinarayanan Shrinivasan, Area Operation Director, Orissa, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. Also, present at the event were Mr. Haraprasad Mahapatra, Village Director, SOS Rourkela Orissa, Mr. Pranabesh Nandi, TCM, Rourkela; Mr. R.K. Goel, Unit Head, Rourkela Co. Packer; Mr. Prabeer Kumar Nanda, Team Leader, HCCBP; other committee members and around 50 children of the SOS Children's Village. In Kochi, HCCB joined hands with SOS Children's Village, Kochi to celebrate the World Water Day at the village campus in Aluva, by launching an awareness campaign on the theme of water conservation. The campaign included painting competition for children of three different age groups and spreading awareness about the Rain Water Harvesting project commissioned in the village jointly by Coca-Cola India and the SOS Village. As many as 100 children participated in the two-hour painting competition conducted at the village, with children expressing their thoughts through water colour and crayon about the urgent need to preserve every drop of water. Prizes were given to winners of the contest by chief guest, Prof Narayana Kaimal in the presence of Village Director, Mr Vipin Das and Area General Manager of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Limited, Ajai Kumar in a simple event organized at the village. Well know educationalist and Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Vaduthala, Rachel Jacob inaugurated the painting contest. Eminent drawing/painting masters Satheesh Vazhavelil and Ravi Kumar assessed the entries of the painting contest and expressed great happiness about the level of awareness and expression of the young participants. The fortnight long celebrations of World Water Day across the Business Units continues with several projects and awareness programs being conducted to generate awareness about Water Conservation. These programs were conducted in partnership with local NGO's, community leaders, associates of bottling units and other significant stakeholders.