Zirakpur, India | 29 January 2026: Driven by its focus onenvironmental sustainability and responsible community engagement, Kia India Pvt. Ltd., in collaboration with the Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), organised a Panel Discussion and Culmination Ceremony under Project D.R.O.P. (Develop Responsible Outlook for Plastic) at Park Plaza Hotel, Zirakpur.
The event marked the successful completion of Phase 3 of Project D.R.O.P. in the Tri-city region of Punjab, Kia India’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at promoting responsible plastic consumption, strengthening plastic waste management systems, and encouraging community-led environmental action.
The programme brought together key stakeholders from government bodies, municipal corporations, industry, civil society, and local communities to deliberate on sustainable and scalable solutions for plastic waste management, while also recognizing the collective efforts that contributed to the project’s success. The ceremony witnessed participation from over 200 attendees, including representatives from 211 onboarded locations comprising Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), schools, colleges, and institutions across the Tri-city. These entities were felicitated for their sustained efforts in promoting waste segregation, reducing single-use plastics, and ensuring systematic channelization of plastic waste to authorised recyclers.
The panel discussion featured eminent speakers including Sh. Krishan Kant Singla, Principal Scientific Officer, Punjab State council for Science & Technology, Sh. Rajvir Walia, General Secretary, Silver City Themes, Zirakpur, Smt. Bhawanpreet Kaur, Assistant Professor, Eco-Club Coordinator, GJIMT, Mohali and Col. Dalbir Singh, GM, Training, Project & Consultancy, MGSIPA, Chandigarh. The session was moderated by Dr. Reena Chaddha, General Manager, IPCA. Discussions focused on collaborative models, policy support, and community participation to strengthen the capacity of urban local bodies in addressing plastic waste management challenges.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Sustainability is a core pillar of Kia India’s long-term vision. Project D.R.O.P. is designed to drive measurable behavioral change by strengthening waste management ecosystems and encouraging responsible plastic consumption at the community level. Our partnership with IPCA and local stakeholders reinforces our vision to collaborative, outcome-driven environmental action.”
He further added, “The culmination of Phase 3 of Project D.R.O.P marks not just a project milestone, but a celebration of collective efforts involving communities, municipal bodies, and implementation partners. It also sets the foundation for the next phase of the initiative.”
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Sh. Ajay Garg, Secretary, IPCA, said,
“Project D.R.O.P. demonstrates how industry-led CSR initiatives, when implemented in partnership with civil society and local authorities, can create scalable and sustainable environmental impact. The culmination event provides an important opportunity to reflect on progress, share learnings, and chart the way forward.”
Sharing the progress and scale of the initiative, Dr. Reena Chaddha, General Manager IPCA, said,
“Project D.R.O.P., a CSR initiative of Kia India implemented by IPCA, was launched on January 1, 2023 across five cities—Gurugram, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Mumbai. The initiative has since expanded to eight cities, including Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Zirakpur, enrolling over 1100 establishments and achieving a cumulative collection of 14,284 metric tons of plastic waste till December 2025.” Further adding to this, she informed to the audience that the active participation of 211 enrolled locations in the Tri-city region has resulted in measurable on-ground outcomes, including cleaner neighborhoods, strengthened collection mechanisms, and increased public awareness around responsible plastic consumption.
Looking ahead, Kia India and IPCA reiterated their commitment to scaling the impact of Project D.R.O.P. by consolidating learnings from the Tri-city region, building new partnerships, and advancing subsequent phases of the initiative across existing and new geographies. The culmination event in Zirakpur thus marked both a celebration of progress achieved and a renewed call for collective action in addressing the challenge of plastic waste.
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