NEW DELHI, Feb 2: The Mawrah Multipurpose Reservoir in East Khasi Hills district under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan Mission of the Centre which focuses on rainwater conservation, found mention as a “model” under the “action for water management,” in the Economic Survey released on the eve of the presentation of the Union Budget.
The Mawrah Project was conceptualised in 2021 at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore through the project funding from NABARD under its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. Later, other financial assistance was also received from State Plan and the Meghalayan Age Ltd.
The important project inaugurated in 2024 by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was undertaken to recharge groundwater, rejuvenate springs, restore the catchment area and rehabilitate mine-spoilt land. “The project serves as a model for integrated water resource management and community-driven environmental conservation efforts,” the survey led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Later construction of the footbridge over dam, approach roads/footpaths, boating platform and other infrastructure were also done. The Meghalaya government aimed to utilise the project for promoting tourism, aquaculture and farming and currently the reservoir is becoming a breeding site for native fish species and is also attracting several migratory birds drawing tourists too.
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan under which these schemes come was initiated to address the acute water stress in various parts of the country mainly through rainwater harvesting. Only about 4-5 per cent of rainwater in Meghalaya is retained by the state and the rest flows to Assam and Bangladesh and creating reservoirs is the only way to retain the rainwater.
