Tata Trusts’ Water Intervention Revives Spring, Strengthens Water Security in Remote Tripura Village

Agartala, May 24, 2026, By Our Correspondent

A communityled water conservation initiative supported by Tata Trusts has transformed water availability in a remote tribal village in North Tripura, offering a model of climateresilient and sustainable rural development.Nestled in the Jampui Hills, Tlangsang village had long depended on a single spring for drinking water, household use, livestock and agriculture. However, declining groundwater recharge and irregular rainfall over the years severely reduced water availability, especially during the dry months from November to April.For residents like 65yearold Vanlalsiama, collecting water had become an exhausting daily struggle. Families often waited for long periods to collect even small quantities of water, affecting hygiene, livelihoods and household wellbeing.The crisis intensified in early 05 when spring discharge dropped from 1.3 litres per minute in January to only 0.3 litres per minute in March. At that stage, Tata Trusts, through its associate organisation Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML), introduced a scientifically designed springshed management programme focused on longterm water security rather than temporary relief.The intervention combined technical expertise with community participation. Detailed hydrogeological assessments were conducted, followed by participatory planning and the formation of a Spring Water User Committee. The programme included excavation of 300 recharge trenches, treatment of . hectares of recharge area and continuous monitoring of spring discharge.Community members actively contributed labour and local knowledge, with women accounting for nearly 65 per cent of the workforce involved in implementation. The results became visible within months. Following the monsoon, spring discharge increased sharply to 4.3 litres per minute in June, 4.65 litres in July and 4.77 litres by October. During January 06 the most critical dry period the spring maintained a discharge of 1.9 litres per minute, marking a 46 per cent increase over the previous year.Beyond improved water availability, the initiative reduced household stress, improved hygiene and freed up valuable time for women to pursue livelihoods and support children’s education. The experience of Tlangsang demonstrates how Tata Trusts’ technical facilitation, combined with institutional support and community ownership, can build longterm water resilience even in fragile hill ecosystems.