Ground water bill in cabinet cell for approval
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 11
Nagaland’s Soil & Water Conservation And Geology & Mining Minister V Kashiho Sangtam said that the departments are in war footing for economic recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister said the lockdown in India and Nagaland in the wake of COVID-19 has put the state economy into a stage of uncertainty.
In the wake of unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic, we are once again reminded of the importance of the agriculture for the very existence of humanity, he said during the discussion on matters of urgent public importance on Post COVID Economic Recovery at the recently concluded 8th session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
He said that the successful agriculture is dependent on soil; a healthy one, to produce food that is sufficient to feed the ever increasing population.
27, 304 soil samples tested in Nagaland
Kashiho said that the department has successfully collected and tested 27, 304 soil samples for generation and distribution of soil health card to the farmers covering 74 blocks as a pilot project.
During 2021-22, the department’s action plan includes generation and distribution of 74,000 soil health cards covering 370 villages across the state, the minister said.
He said that the department was rigorously promoting soil health card recommendation based application of micronutrients and bio-fertilizers among the farmers covering a total area of 2.25 lakh ha in phase wise manner.
He was hopeful that with the series of intervention, the health of the soil can be monitored and managed properly thus keeping soil alive for a sustainable production to a large extent.
In 2019, the Department of Soil & Water Conservation was given the responsibility to implement Soil Health Card and Soil Management scheme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). It has set up 11 full-fledged soil testing laboratories with modern hi-tech equipment like Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) which is capable of analyzing soils upto the level of micronutrient.
The minister also said that mini soil testing labs in all 74 blocks are also due for completion few weeks from now.
Bio-Fertilizer production units
Working in line with the state government’s vision of a fully organic state, the department has started works for setting up of 2 Bio-Fertilizer production units at Seyochung and Rotomi and proposal for another 10 units covering all districts including Noklak is awaiting ministry’s approval, the minister said.
The bio-fertilizer production units once completed will produce sufficient bio-fertilizer to meet the soil amendment need of the farmers in the state.
Studies proven that bio-fertilizers and micronutrients when applied properly and at the right time enhance the productivity by upto 40%, the minister maintained.
Ground water bill in cabinet cell for approval
The Minister said water exploration scheme is taken up by geology and mining department. In rural areas, the department explores water for villages with ground water tapping scheme where there is no gravity pipeline water supply.
In urban areas, deposit schemes are taken up which contribute to the state revenue, the minister said.
Kashiho informed that the department will expand the operational system when ground water bill is passed which is in cabinet cell for approval.
Minor mineral
Though the department has not been entrusted to implement the royalty on minor mineral independently, it had generated revenue even during pandemic period, the minister said,
In future as the urbanizing development and the road and railway construction takes place, it will be the main source of revenue generation for the state, he said.
Once the department of geology and mining is allowed to grant mining leases and levy royalty and fee under the provision of Minor Mineral Concession Rule (MMCR) 2004, it can generate Rs 10 to 15 crore to the state exchequer annually, he said.
Oil & natural gas deposit
Kashiho maintained that there is large volume of oil & gas deposit in the foothill area of the state, which is on halt due to litigation and suo moto order from the court.
“If the matter is settled and tapping of oil & gas is started the royalty from oil & gas will be one of the highest in Post COVID 19 economic recovery and revenue for the state exchequer,” he added.
