Discover the success of community-led water security plan in Jampui Hill at the stakeholders’ meeting held on May 17, 2025, hosted by TATA Trusts-CML. Learn how springshed initiative through rainwater retention has transformed livelihoods, boosted economies, and sustained Tripura’s rivers, setting a scalable model for water sustainability.
Agartala May 17, 2025: An important stakeholders’ meeting on Community-led Water Security and Springshed Initiatives is held on 17 May, 2025 at Behliangchhip YMA Hall, Jampui Hill with the theme “Strengthening community ownership for spring source sustainability.”
This meeting is more of a celebration of the successful implementation of a unique project called Spring Water Recharge and Rejuvination Through Rain Water Retention in Soil, by TATA Trusts-Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML) in partnership with the local community of Jampui Hill and supported by the government of Tripura.
Under this project, almost all key springs across Jampui Hill range, carefully selected by geologists and engineers have been rejuvinated by digging of contour trenches, feeder canals and ponds which will serve as barrier structures that retain the rain water and feed these spring water sources. With this intervention, not only the existing springs will discharge more quantities of water but it is also expected that even the dry springs will come to life again, experts opined.
Water, water, water….is the magic word!
Rituparno Chanda, Programme Officer-WaSH, TATA Trusts-Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML) welcomes the participants of the meeting, acknowledges the hard work of the team and critical roles played by the community, and also appreciates the supports from the government through BDO of Jampui Hill RD Block and the state’s forest department. He asserts that the success of the project in a record time has been only possible because of excellent team work from all the stakeholders.
Lalrinngheta Darlong, TCS (Gr-I), Additional District Magistrate & Collector (PP) graces the event and gives insightful thoughts to the audience on how the project will have positive impacts on the livelihood and economy of the local population through saving of time, increase of crop yields. He also advocates for further scale up of the project to double of the existing capacity to benefit larger areas and population.
The BDO of Jampui Hill Debabrata Roy, TCS, also thanks TATA Trusts-Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML) team for choosing Jampui Hill for the execution of this pilot project. He also exhorts about the excellent cooperation and eveready participation of the local community in all government initiatives, a trait which is unique of Jampui Hill.
He adds that no wonder a team from Assam government has already visited Jampui Hill recently to learn about the project so that they can implement the same in Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council areas.
The state forest department also has its own contribution to the project by giving forest clearance in a record time for the immediate implementation. Nabarun Dey, TFS, DFO of Dharmanagar Subdivision confirms this fact in his speech today, standing on behalf of the District Forest Officer.
The Mizo Convention of Jampui Hill, through its respective Village Council of each village, has been working with TATA Trusts-CML at ground practical levels.
Dr Zairemthiama Pachuau, General Secretary of Mizo Convention in his speech mentions the kind of harmony and rhythm that exists among all stakeholders throughout the project implementation.
He also informs the media that as four of the ten major rivers of Tripura, namely Langkaih (Longai), Nelkang (Deo), Juri and Manu rivers have their origins in Jampui Hill, this project also directly and indirectly benefits the rest Tripura state and even Bangladesh in sustaining the river system.
He states that it is ironic to know that people of the Hill that feeds the state of its rivers often has to cry out in thirst for water, which can be addressed by implementation of rain water harvesting system in large scale and judicious management of its spring water sources.
The local people of Jampui Hill are motivated to scale up the practice at individual, family and community levels in days to come.
