Water for Wildlife, Peace for Chenchu Tribal Community: Solar Solutions End Drought and Conflict
India, 06 January 2025: In a significant stride toward wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability, Virtusa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of VirtuFFsa Corporation, has successfully installed 10 solar-powered borewells in the heart of the Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana. Spanning 2,611 square kilometers across Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts, the Amrabad Tiger Reserve is a haven for unique flora and fauna. These solar-powered borewells are installed across the Mannanur, Amrabad, and Maddimadugu forest ranges, ensuring sustainable water sources in the region and underscoring Virtusa's commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
These automated borewells, powered by clean energy, operate at sunrise and shut off at sunset without manual intervention to provide a consistent water supply for the reserve's wildlife—home to tigers, wild boars, nilgai, and blackbuck enabling them to thrive in their natural habitat. Strategically placed along animal corridors, they help overcome water scarcity, especially during dry seasons, and reduce carbon footprint. By reducing human-animal conflicts, this initiative fosters improved coexistence between local wildlife and the Chenchu tribal community, whose traditional livelihoods have long been hampered by restricted forest access.
Mr. Amit Bajoria, Chief Financial Officer of Virtusa, commenting on the initiative, said, "This project marks a milestone in our efforts toward biodiversity conservation and our commitment to building a more sustainable future that enhances community welfare and empowers local population. At Virtusa, we believe in the power of renewable energy to create long-term positive environmental transformations that are vital to our collaborative approach toward achieving a net‑zero future."
Through these impactful initiatives, Virtusa demonstrates how businesses can effectively reduce their carbon footprint while uplifting local communities. As a company, Virtusa has achieved CDP A-ratings for climate change disclosure for three consecutive years and EcoVadis Gold medal for two consecutive years, alongside recent validation of its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). This validation, encompassing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, highlights Virtusa's unwavering commitment to addressing climate change. Virtusa aims to create lasting environmental benefits and inspire future generations to protect the planet by prioritizing ecological sustainability, education, and community empowerment.