Shillong, Sept 21: As climate change and erratic rainfall put pressure on freshwater sources across the Northeast, Meghalaya has made the rejuvenation of its springs, streams and watersheds a central plank of its development strategy. The message was underscored on Monday at a two-day workshop in Shillong reviewing five years of work under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Watershed Development Component (PMKSY-WDC) 2.0.
Addressing the workshop, “Experience Sharing, Learning and Way Forward,” at the State Convention Centre, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N. Marak said water in Meghalaya extends well beyond its role as a resource.
“For Meghalaya, water is not merely a resource, it is closely connected with our environment, agriculture, livelihoods and wellbeing of our communities,” he said.
The minister said the programme’s guiding philosophy of balancing economy and ecology is especially relevant to the state. He added that the government under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has sought to align economic development with ecological conservation and community participation.
The minister stressed that watershed work should be judged by outcomes for people rather than by structures built. “The ultimate objective of watershed development is not to simply complete projects or create physical assets but to ensure that water conservation translates into better livelihoods,” he said.
That means improving agricultural productivity, creating opportunities for landless families, strengthening self-help groups (SHGs) and farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and ensuring benefits reach the communities that depend on these resources.
Meghalaya receives some of the heaviest rainfall in the world, yet many of its communities face water scarcity in the dry months. Much of the state’s rural population depends on natural springs for drinking water and irrigation, while rain-fed agriculture remains the mainstay of livelihoods. Rejuvenating springs, recharging groundwater and restoring degraded catchments is therefore central to food security, household water access and climate resilience.
Marak said technology has strengthened the state’s strategy.
Meghalaya has:
Identified more than 70,000 spring-sheds
Mapped over 65,000 springs
Prioritised 792 critical water sources for rejuvenation
The state has also been recognised as the top performing state under PMKSY-WDC 2.0, with a score of 73.47 percent for 2026-27, according to the Government of India.
The workshop, organised by the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the Meghalaya State Watershed and Wasteland Development Agency (MSWWDA), saw the launch of the department’s revamped website and a Project Management Information System (PMIS) under the Climate Adaptive Community Based Water Harvesting Project (CACbWHP).
The PMIS centralises project information and links state and district units. It currently covers 533 water harvesting structures across 12 BMP blocks, enabling real-time tracking and evidence-based decision making.
The department’s annual report and a compilation of watershed success stories were also released.
Winners of the Watershed Janbhagidari Cup 2026 (Phase II) and the Social Media Competition under PMKSY-WDC 2.0 were felicitated.
In his keynote address, L. Shabong, Director of the Soil and Water Conservation Department and Deputy CEO of MSWWDA, said the programme’s implementation had been made possible through collaborative efforts. “This workshop brings together the many hands and minds that have contributed to watershed development in the state over the past five years,” he said.
Shabong said Meghalaya has 2,776 micro-watersheds ranked under different categories. PMKSY-WDC 2.0, launched in 2021-22, covers 32 projects across 62,000 hectares and 96 micro-watersheds, with an investment of Rs 175 crore spread across all districts.
He reported the following results:
More than 20,000 hectares of degraded rain-fed land brought under soil and moisture conservation measures
Over 2,400 water-harvesting structures built, improving water availability, soil fertility and access to irrigation.
The head of the Soil and Water Conservation Department also cautioned that lasting results depend on local involvement. “Sustainability depends on community ownership,” he said.
Monday’s sessions featured presentations by the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) team, the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) and NEDFi on technical planning, spatial applications and institutional support. Participants also discussed lessons from WDC 1.0 and WDC 2.0 as the state prepares for WDC 3.0.
The workshop continues on September 22 with technical sessions on regional experiences from the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills, along with presentations by ICAR, NEHU Tura and SIRD, among others.
The road ahead
With thousands of springs mapped and hundreds of critical sources prioritised, the challenge now is to turn data into sustained recovery on the ground. Officials say that will depend on keeping communities at the centre of water management, maintaining the structures already built, and using real-time monitoring to direct resources where they are most needed.
