The project includes setting up 50 weather stations and micro-irrigation systems, along with 533 water harvesting units across Meghalaya’s 12 districts

To boost water security and strengthen climate resilience, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the Rs 516 crore Climate Adaptive Community-based Water Harvesting Project (CACbWHP – ADB) at Mendipathar College Cricket Ground, North Garo Hills. Funded by the Asian Development Bank and implemented by the Soil & Water Conservation Department, the initiative supports climate-smart water management across all 12 districts.

The project will establish 50 weather stations, install micro-irrigation systems, and construct 533 climate-resilient water harvesting structures. It aims to create 10 million cubic meters of water storage, protect 12,500 hectares of catchment areas, and irrigate 3,297 hectares of farmland.

Sangma emphasized the project’s alignment with the Meghalaya State Water Policy 2019, which advocates for sustainable, participatory water management. Alongside this, the Rs 47.19 crore “Megh Adapt Pay” project was launched, focusing on afforestation, forest conservation, and land development.

The CM reiterated the government’s commitment to partnering with communities to restore ecosystems and expand the state’s green cover. Minister Marcuise N. Marak highlighted the Chief Minister’s broader vision to place Meghalaya among India’s top 10 states by 2028, stressing the project’s role in supporting agriculture during low rainfall and enhancing water conservation statewide.

The initiative is expected to benefit around 50,000 households, with 82 per cent of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) work already completed.