Conrad K Sangma Launches Rs 516 Crore Climate-Adaptive Community Water Harvesting Project

MEGHALAYA:
With an aim to enhance water security and increase community climate resilience in Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister, today launched the Climate Adaptative Community based Water Harvesting Project, an externally funded by Asian Development Bank (CACbWHP – ADB), under the Soil & Water Conservation department, at Mendipathar College Cricket Ground, North Garo Hills. The Chief Minister, along with senior officials, visited remote areas of North Garo Hills to help better understand the situations and connect with citizens at a grassroots level.

The project aims to establish 50 weather stations for climate data gathering and monitoring, and micro-irrigation systems in all 12 districts of the State. The project will support the construction of 533 water harvesting facilities across 12 districts. These facilities will incorporate climate-resilient designs to capture and manage heavy rainfall and flash floods during monsoon season.

This project amounting to $ 62.5 million (Rs 516 crore) aims to create 10 million cubic meters of water storage, protect 12,500 hectares of catchment areas, and transform about 3,297 hectares of command area to provide reliable irrigation areas for farmers.

Dignitaries included Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister, Marcuise N. Marak, Minister, Soil & Water Conservation Department; Bah Paul Lyngdoh, Minister, Social Welfare Department, Marthon J. Sangma, MLA, Mendipathar Constituency, Rupert Momin, MLA, Kharkutta constituency. Key officials included. Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner & Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Dr. Joram Beda, Commissioner & Secretary, Soil & Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya, and Dr. Abhishek Solni, Deputy Commissioner, North Garo Hills.

The Chief Minister stated that the project aligns with the Meghalaya State Water Policy (MSWP) 2019, which seeks to achieve sustainable development, management, and utilisation of the state’s water resources through a participatory approach, reduce vulnerability, and promote integrated water resource management.

“Megh Adapt Pay” project was also launched, mounting to ₹ 47.19 Crores, which is part of the Climate Adaptive Community Based Water Harvesting Project for afforestation, conservation of existing forests and agricultural land development implemented by Soil and Water Conservation Department.

The chief minister also informed that through the project the community and government will forge partnerships to help protect forests, restore degraded lands, improve ecosystem health, rehabilitate degraded catchment area, and expanding green cover across the state.

“I have seen the same commitment and sincerity in all of you, and I assure you that I will give my best in all the work that we do for the people and for the state. And we will work together to change our state and to take our state forward”, the Chief Minister added.

Marcuise N. Marak highlighted the Chief Minister’s vision for the state’s overall development, aiming to rank Meghalaya among India’s top 10 states by 2028, noting improvements in education, infrastructure, and tourism for the benefit of the people. He emphasized that without preserving water and the environment, achieving this ranking would be challenging, underscoring the importance of the climate-adaptive program and the PMGSY scheme. He added that the project would support farmers during low rainfall and benefit every district.

He stated that around 50,000 households would benefit and that 82% of JJM works had been completed, assuring that the remaining work would not be abandoned despite challenges in securing land.

Dr. Joram Beda, Commissioner & Secretary, Soil & Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya, in his keynote address, highlighted that the launch serves as a prelude to World Environment Day, describing it as a highly appropriate initiative.

He mentioned that in Garo Hills, the project includes a substantial number of watersheds, with North Garo Hills allocated 53, West Garo Hills 34, East Garo Hills 44, Southwest Garo Hills 39, and South Garo Hills 32. Dr. Beda emphasized that this is a community-driven effort, noting that a key component of the project is the launch of Megha Adapt Pay, which seeks to provide incentives of approximately Rs 10 lakhs per watershed committee or Village Employment Council. He added that the community is tasked with growing plantations of their choice under this initiative.

The Chief Minister also distributed cheques to 87 Nos of Village Employment Council under Megha Adapt Pay, ADB and 37 SHGs under PMKSY WDC 2.0. He also laid the foundation stone for construction of Koknal Water Harvesting Structure at Rangmangre village, North Garo Hills in the presence of Marcuise N Marak, Minister i/c Soil & Water Conservation and Dr. Joram Beda, Commissioner & Secretary, Soil & Water Conservation, Govt of Meghalaya, Officials and Community.