Shillong, March 25 : The Meghalaya Government’s “Mawrah Multipurpose Reservoir Project,” implemented in collaboration with the Mawrah Village Dorbar of East Khasi Hills, has been awarded the prestigious 4th Water Sustainability Award 2024-25. The project was recognized for “Excellence in Participatory Water Management for Enhancing Water Management through Community Participation” at a ceremony held in New Delhi by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
This marks the first time a Soil & Water Conservation Department initiative has received this national award, highlighting the government’s commitment to climate action through community engagement. The award underscores the project’s success in addressing water scarcity and promoting sustainable development in the region.
The Water Sustainability Awards aim to promote Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6) on Water by encouraging water neutrality. The Mawrah project was evaluated on its relevance and impact on climate-resilient water resources management, its unique community empowerment approach, its best practices, and its alignment with global and national targets.
The jury, comprising experts from UNDP, MoJS, Niti Ayog, and TERI, praised the Mawrah model as a prime example of successful government-community collaboration in water resource management. They noted its positive impact on livelihoods and its contribution to achieving SDG-6.
The Mawrah Multipurpose Reservoir Project, located at an elevation of 1815 meters above sea level, features an RCC-Arch dam, covering a micro catchment of 27.30 hectares and creating a pondage area of 7.70 hectares with a storage capacity of 52,800 cubic meters. The project, with a cost of Rs. 2.49 Crores, benefits 252 households, aiming to improve overall livelihood in the area.
Key benefits of the project include:
- Improved vegetation cover and ecosystem services.
- Resolution of water scarcity issues.
- Enhanced soil moisture and water holding capacity.
- Increased surface/base flow and water harvesting.
- Reduced surface water runoff and soil erosion.
- Livelihood enhancement through pisciculture, tourism, and agriculture.
- Increased community awareness of sustainable water resource management.
Meghalaya Expands Climate-Resilient Water Harvesting Initiatives
In addition to the Mawrah project, the Meghalaya Government, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, is implementing a $62.5 million climate-adaptive, community-based water harvesting project. This initiative will construct approximately 532 climate-resilient water harvesting structures across the state, creating a pondage area of approximately 415 hectares and a water storage capacity of 12 million cubic meters. The loan agreement for this project was signed in December 2024, and implementation has begun in various districts.
