Contributing to about 25% of L&T’s total ‘green’ businesses, Heavy Civil Infrastructure IC is playing a lead role in the Company’s concerted quest to achieve carbon and water neutrality. “Creating awareness is key to promoting environmental change through informed decisions leading to collective action, for which our top management is taking the lead to shape business strategies that prioritize climate change and sustainability at its core,” says Nigel Wirtz, Head – EHS, HCI IC, etching the contours of their strategy. “Initiatives such as renewable energy adoption, transitioning from diesel generators to grid power to reduce Scope 1 emissions, optimizing fuel consumption across projects and machinery, and procuring sustainable power through third-party sources are some of our efforts to foster a sustainable business model,” he adds.

Well on their way to scale ‘green’ peaks

A matter of pride for Mouli Durai, Head – Environment, HCI, is that his IC has already achieved a major share of their short-term goals related to emission intensity and water usage reduction till date. “We have proactively engaged in understanding the intricate ESG materiality specific to the construction industry,” he apprises, “and as part of the Lakshya initiative, detailed projections were made to assess contributors to emission and water intensity. These insights guided the formulation and execution of targeted sustainability initiatives aligned with our overarching neutrality objectives.”

Rainwater harvesting pond at MAHSR C4

Their efforts are being driven by a team of 37 dedicated Environment Engineers stationed at project sites, supported by EHS In-charges across several projects, who have been mandated to translate corporate sustainability goals into actionable strategies through ground-level initiatives, integrating carbon neutrality, water neutrality, and resource efficiency into the EHS framework. To reinforce this commitment, HCI has released multiple guidance manuals under the Sustainability Action Framework (SAF), outlining detailed guidelines for implementing neutrality initiatives at project sites that include SAF for ESG implementation, solar integration, and sewage treatment plant deployment.

“In FY24 alone, we have implemented 119 initiatives (including sewage treatment plants (STPs), rainwater harvesting, e‑vehicles, small-scale solar equipment) to achieve carbon and water neutrality,” says Mouli, with a look of immense satisfaction. “In fact, our initiative to migrate from DG to grid power started at the Urban Transit SBG has significantly reduced reliance on diesel generators, which has substantially reduced diesel consumption from 25% to 16%.”

Renewable energy consumption at MAHSR up 300% in the past 4 years

Vinod Kumar Agarwal (Environment Lead, C4 TFL) and his team at the C4 Package of the MAHSR project is leading the way in sustainability. “We have achieved nearly half of HCI’s total renewable energy generation entirely through decentralized, small-scale renewable solutions such as solar lights, solar blinkers, solar light masts, and solar water heaters,” shares a visibly pleased Vinod, adding that their renewable energy consumption has increased by about 300% in the past 4 years.

Water conservation through steam curing at RVNL 04

The team’s focus has been on reducing power consumption and subsequent efficient utilization of energy through energy-efficient initiatives like sky lighting – use of natural light in stores, casting yards, and the noise barrier factories. “Our grid consumption has reduced by 15 lakh kW in the last FY, and CO₂ emissions have reduced by 1,200 tonnes by using star-rated appliances, maintaining power factor >0.95, and variable frequency drives,” remarks Vinod.

Water conservation has been another key focus area, and the team has successfully reduced freshwater consumption by a whopping 30% thanks to their 17 STPs. “We have reduced the use of freshwater through rainwater harvesting, steam curing, recycling wastewater, and reusing the water in several of our construction activities,” elaborates Mouli. An innovative technology (Air to Water) of converting humidity in the air to potable drinking water has been attempted at C4 and the site also has a rainwater harvesting pond, which meets the water needs of the site long after the monsoons have retreated.

Other sites jumping onto the ‘green’ bandwagon

Focused on conserving resources and promoting circular economy by using alternative materials, HCI teams are customizing discarded rebar for other purposes to reduce scrap. “We recycle waste concrete, waste scrap, and other waste material within our process activities to promote our mission of reduce, recycle, and reuse like at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant site,” smiles Nigel, and for good reason, for the numbers make for encouraging reading. Currently, 39% of materials used are alternatives. “We actively engage in ecosystem restoration efforts, including beach and lake clean-ups, top-soil restoration, and tree plantations, having planted 45,357 saplings in FY25, with maintenance.”

C&D waste recycling at KKNPP HTS