The Tripura government has completed the construction of 443 earthen check dams since 2022 in Dhalai and North Tripura districts under the Indo-German Development Cooperation (IGDC) initiative, an official confirmed on Saturday, 13 September, according to a PTI report. The project aims to regulate water flow, curb soil erosion, and enhance sustainable forest management.
Strengthening Water Security and Livelihoods
The check dams, built as part of an externally aided project, are designed to provide multiple benefits. According to S. Prabhu, Project Director (CEO) of the IGDC initiative in Tripura, these structures will support fisheries, improve irrigation for nearby farmland, and ensure greater water availability for domestic use. “The water bodies will help retain soil moisture, sustain rain-fed crops, enable multiple cropping, and support livestock,” he explained.
Progress Toward the Target
Out of the total target of 645 check dams, 443 have been completed so far, with 427 of them deemed suitable for fish farming across 126 villages in the two districts. Officials described the initiative as a major step toward integrating climate resilience with community development.
Climate-Resilient Forest Project Backed by Germany
The earthen check dam programme is a key intervention under the Climate Resilience of Forest Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Adaptive Capacities of Forest-Dependent Communities in Tripura (CREFLAT) project. The Rs 280-crore project, launched in 2020 with financial support from German development bank KfW, will continue for seven years and cover 129 villages.
Prabhu noted that capacity-building programmes on fisheries have been held at the district level. “The training sessions were well received by the community and helped enhance their technical knowledge,” he said.
Boosting Fish Production
As part of the scheme, fingerlings of rohu, catla, grass carp, mrigal carp, and common carp are being distributed to local communities along with fish feed, lime for water quality management, and fishing nets, with approval from KfW.
Tripura’s fish production was recorded at 83,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2023, up from 82,000 MT in 2022. However, the state still faces a deficit of about 31,000 MT against an estimated demand of 1.17 lakh MT. This shortfall continues to be met through imports from other states and Bangladesh.
