Jusco/Tata
Water Company of the Year
What is it?
Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company Ltd. is the municipal services company for Jamshedpur, in India. It is a subsidiary of Tata.
What has it done?
Jusco was carved out of Tata Steel in 2003. In that short space of time, it has reinvented itself as one of the most effective water utilities in India. Water meeting bacteriological standards increased from 93% in 2004 to 98% in 2007, and more tellingly, service quality compliance rose from 61% in 2005 to 97% in 2007, while 65% of connections are now metered. This success has led to Jusco becoming involved in water utility service contracts elsewhere in India.
Why is it shortlisted?
- India's municipal utilities are failing in the face of a monumental challenge. Many people might excuse this failure on the grounds that the country is just too poor to have first-class water services. Jusco contradicts this assumption through its excellent utility performance and its sound finances. It sets the standard for India's public utility sector.
- Jusco is spreading its success around the country, with contracts in Jharkhan, Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and a range of industrial customers.
- The success of Jusco is one aspect of the Tata Group's overall commitment to ensuring the sustainability of India's water resources. Other initiatives include the Tata Water Policy Research Programme and the development of a safe and efficient home water purification system, priced at less than 200 rupees ($5).