NEW DELHI, 15 November 2026: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Nokia India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to rejuvenate 10 ponds in Haryana's Rewari district, aiming to improve water security, restore local ecosystems and support community livelihoods.
The 24-month Nokia Pond Rejuvenation Project will focus on improving water availability for domestic and agricultural use through pond restoration, water conservation and plantation activities involving local communities.
Under the project, the partners aim to conserve 1.2 lakh cubic metres of water and enhance pond storage capacity to 120 million litres. The initiative will also include planting 200 native species around the ponds to improve green cover.
Other planned activities include installing 100 streetlights to improve safety and providing benches and dustbins to develop community recreational spaces around the ponds.
The project is expected to directly benefit around 22,000 people and indirectly reach approximately 50,000 others through improved water conservation, groundwater recharge and ecological restoration.
The MoU was signed at TERI Gram in Gwal Pahari by Dr Dipankar Saharia, Executive Director, TERI, and Vibha Mehra, Country Manager, Nokia India, in the presence of representatives from both organisations.
Dr Saharia said the partnership would combine scientific approaches and community participation to conserve water resources, increase green cover and strengthen local resilience.
Mehra said the initiative reflects Nokia's sustainability commitment and its focus on supporting grassroots development, water security and environmental resilience.
Rashmi Murali, Fellow at TERI, outlined the project's objectives and the role of local communities in pond rejuvenation and long-term maintenance.
Haryana, despite being a major agricultural and industrial state, faces persistent water stress. The project seeks to address local water challenges by restoring village ponds and improving their capacity to support households and farming communities.
The partnership forms part of Nokia India's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and aligns with the organisations' broader focus on sustainable development and community-led natural resource management.