Guwahati, Jan 30: The Economic Survey 2026 has flagged Meghalaya as a national case study on climate adaptation, warning that nearly half of the state’s natural springs have either dried up or are showing sharply reduced water flow, raising serious concerns over long-term water security.
The case study, one of several highlighted in the Survey, illustrates how India’s climate response is evolving from stand-alone projects to integrated, growth-supporting national resilience strategies.
The Survey notes that Meghalaya’s shift towards a community-centric, ecosystem-based approach has been driven by mounting climate stress in the hill state. Changing rainfall patterns and ecological degradation, it says, are placing increasing pressure on traditional water sources.
To respond, Meghalaya has rolled out a statewide water security framework anchored by initiatives such as MegARISE, the Spring Mapping Initiative, and climate-adaptive community-based water harvesting projects.
Under the MegARISE programme, the state plans to protect and restore 8,430 hectares of critical forested catchments, including the Umiew and Ganol river basins, through sustainable forest management, watershed treatment, and forest restoration. Community participation forms the backbone of these interventions.
The Survey also highlights Meghalaya’s extensive use of GIS technology to map more than 55,000 springs, enabling authorities to identify stressed water sources and undertake timely corrective action. In parallel, over 500 community-led water harvesting projects are being implemented to strengthen climate-resilient water management at the village level.
Beyond water security, the state’s Vision 2032 identifies ‘Green Meghalaya’ as the country’s largest Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme. According to the vision document, over 51,000 hectares of natural forest have been conserved under the programme so far, with ₹48 crore disbursed to 3,275 beneficiaries. The state has set a target of bringing one lakh hectares under conservation.
Afforestation and landscape restoration efforts have also gathered pace. Over the past five years, 1.8 crore saplings have been planted across 28,000 hectares, with an additional 42,000 hectares planned for afforestation in the next phase. These initiatives are closely linked to Meghalaya’s climate budgeting framework, under which around 18% of the state’s total budget is now allocated to climate action. The Survey notes that Meghalaya’s climate budget has grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 30% over the last three financial years.
Community participation emerges as a defining feature of Meghalaya’s climate model. The Survey points out that over 13,000 village-level community facilitators have been trained to drive climate action at the grassroots, while 75,000 students from 1,840 schools have participated in environmental activities, including the preparation and dispersal of 3.5 million seedballs. In addition, 43 lakh saplings are being raised annually through 765 community nurseries, strengthening local ownership of ecological restoration.
The Meghalaya Carbon Agroforestry for Community Resilience and Ecosystems (MegCARE) programme, launched in 2024, is cited as a unique agroforestry-based carbon initiative. So far, 23,700 hectares have been brought under MegCARE, benefiting 13,700 farmers, with ₹0.15 crore disbursed. Notably, 80% of carbon credit benefits generated under the programme are designed to flow directly to farmers. The state has set a long-term goal of developing 100,000 hectares of new agroforestry systems while strengthening 50,000 hectares of existing tree-based landscapes.
Also Read: MBOSE SSLC Examinations Begin Across Meghalaya
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