$50 million ADB loan for Meghalaya’s Water Harvesting Project

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide a $50 million loan to finance the setting up of a water harvesting system in Meghalaya and enhance water security in the state. An agreement for this purpose was signed between India's government and the ADB representative in New Delhi on 5 December 2024. 

The loan agreement was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission.

Use of the ADB loan amount 

The Meghalaya government will use the loan amount to finance the state's Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water Harvesting Project.

• Under the project, a water harvesting system will be constructed on demand of the community.
• 532 small water-storage facilities will be constructed in 12 districts of the state.
• It will finance the construction of three micro-hydro power plants in the water harvesting system.
• It will develop  3,000 hectares of command area to provide assured irrigation facilities for the farmers in the lean rabi season. 
• It will establish 50 weather stations in the Garo, Jaintia, and Khasi regions, for gathering data on climate and for monitoring micro-irrigation systems..
• It will also establish an institutional mechanism for community ownership and integrated management of natural resources through village employment councils, watershed management committees, and water users' associations.

Beneficiary of the Water Harvesting Project 

• The newly constructed water harvesting system will improve water security in the state by improving people’s access to water and reducing the impact of climate change.
• It will benefit the agricultural community by ensuring an assured water supply, especially during the rabi cropping season.
• It will help increase agricultural production in the state and improve rural prosperity.
• Improved access to drinking water for the rural community.

Rainfall in Meghalaya 

Meghalaya is one of the wettest places in India, and it annually receives around 3979.3 mm of rainfall.

Mawsynram, the wettest place in India and the world, is also located within the state.

However, the maximum rainfall is received during the Monsoon period (June-September).

Due to Meghalaya's hilly and mountainous terrain, most of the water during rainfall flows down the slopes and into the plain area, creating a water shortage in the non-rainy season.

Climate change has also affected the monsoon season, and the frequency of rain has become erratic.

To mitigate the water shortage problem, the government has launched a project to construct a water harvesting system in association with the central government’s Catch the Rain campaign.

The whole project is community-driven, with participation from the local public.

Also Read: PM Modi virtually launches Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative 

Asian Development Bank 

Asian Development is a regional multilateral development bank focused on the Asia Pacific region.

It provides loans and consultancy services to its member countries on poverty alleviation and development projects.

Members- 69 countries 

Headquarters: Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines

President: Masatsugu Asakawa

President Elect: Masato Kanda 

Also, read Masato Kanda was elected as the 11th President of ADB