The project aims to address water scarcity, enhance agricultural productivity and build climate resilience across Meghalaya's rural communities
The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $50 million loan agreement to construct water-harvesting systems aimed at improving water access and reducing the vulnerability of communities to climate change impacts in Meghalaya.
The project will build 532 climate-resilient water-storage facilities across 12 districts in Meghalaya to manage monsoon floods and improve water security during dry seasons. It will also develop 3,000 hectares for reliable irrigation, implement micro-irrigation systems in the Garo, Jaintia and Khasi regions to improve water-use efficiency. It will also implement pilot renewable energy micro-hydropower in three water-harvesting systems.
Moreover, the project aims to establish institutional mechanisms for community ownership and integrated management of natural resources, in line with both central and state government programmes and policies.
The project will primarily benefit rural communities, particularly by increasing agricultural production through more secure water supplies- especially for the rabi season crops- and by improving drinking water access for rural households.
The Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water Harvesting Project will strengthen local institutions to manage climate-resilient water systems, develop solutions to handle climate challenges like rainfall variability and flash floods, and enhance livelihoods by improving water access for agricultural and non-agricultural use, boosting economic resilience.
This project is also an important step in addressing the state’s water issues amidst a growing water crisis. Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance emphasised that the project aligns with the Meghalaya State Water Policy (MSWP) 2019, which aims to achieve sustainable water resource management, reduce vulnerability and promote integrated water resource management through a participatory approach.
In response to these challenges, the Meghalaya government has proposed an investment of over INR 510 crore to construct water-harvesting structures and reservoirs at over 532 locations across all 12 districts. This initiative is a significant part of the Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water Harvesting Project which seeks to enhance the state's water storage capacity by 2031 and tackle the issue of water scarcity.
“Beyond financing, ADB's value addition will involve assisting the state in implementing the MSWP and providing guidance on integrating climate adaptation measures into water security plans. This includes designing water harvesting systems (WHS) to support agriculture, fisheries, horticulture, water supply, and other productive livelihoods for economic development,” said Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, ADB.
The Government of Meghalaya had requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water Harvesting Project under the State Water Conservation and Development (SWCD) initiative. The proposed project aims to build climate-resilient water-harvesting systems using a community-driven, participatory approach to ensure universal access to water, improve sustainable and efficient water-based livelihoods for rural areas and enhance resilience to climate change impacts, particularly addressing acute water shortages during the non-rainy season.