On 16th January 2019, Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb launched the Project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management at State Forest AcademyGround in Hatipara in West Tripura. The project is jointly funded by the Government of India and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is providing Rs. 1000 crores for a span of 10 years to improve forest lands in targeted catchment areas of Tripura. The 80 per cent of the cost is contributed by JICA and the rest would be funded by the state and central governments. A total of 1,447 check dams will beset up in hilly areas in seven districts of Tripura.