SHILLONG, SEPT 21: “For Meghalaya, water is not merely a resource, it is closely connected with our environment, agriculture, livelihoods and wellbeing of our communities,” Soil and Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N. Marak said on Monday.
Marak was addressing the two-day PMKSY-WDC 2.0 workshop on “Experience Sharing, Learning and Way Forward” which began at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.
He said the guiding philosophy of economy and ecology under PMKSY-WDC 2.0 is particularly relevant for Meghalaya, and the government under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has aligned economic development with ecological conservation and community participation.
“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, improving agricultural productivity, creating opportunities for landless families, strengthening SHGs and FPOs and ensuring benefits reach communities who depend on these resources,” Marak said.
The Minister said technology has strengthened the state’s approach. Meghalaya has identified more than 70,000 spring-sheds, mapped over 65,000 springs and prioritised 792 critical water sources for rejuvenation, he said.
Marak also noted that Meghalaya has been recognised as the top performing state under PMKSY-WDC 2.0 with a score of 73.47 percent for 2026-27 by the Government of India.
The event, organised by the Soil and Water Conservation Department and Meghalaya State Watershed and Wasteland Development Agency (MSWWDA), saw the launch of the department’s revamped website and the Project Management Information System (PMIS) under the Climate Adaptive Community Based Water Harvesting Project (CACbWHP).
The PMIS centralises project information, connects state and district units and 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 Social Media Competition under PMKSY-WDC 2.0 were felicitated.
In his keynote address, Director, Soil and Water Conservation Department and Deputy CEO, MSWWDA L. Shabong said the implementation of PMKSY-WDC 2.0 has been 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 and offers us a valuable opportunity to reflect, learn and plan for the future,” Shabong said.
He 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 across all districts.
“More than 20,000 hectares of degraded rain-fed land have been brought under soil and moisture conservation measures and over 2,400 water-harvesting structures have improved water availability, soil fertility and access to irrigation. Sustainability depends on community ownership,” Shabong said.
The day’s sessions included presentations by SLNA team, NESAC and NEDFi on technical planning, spatial applications and institutional support, and discussions on learnings from WDC 1.0 and WDC 2.0 while preparing for WDC 3.0.
The workshop will continue on September 22 with technical sessions on regional experiences from Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills and presentations by ICAR, NEHU Tura and SIRD among others.
