Parliamentary Secretary to undertake state-wide tour
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 27
Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation and Flood Control Y. Vikheho Swu will take up a tour this April to oversee ongoing irrigation projects in the state.
Speaking with The Morung Express this evening, the parliamentary secretary informed that the purpose of his visit is to get first hand information regarding the irrigation projects in Nagaland state and to study how the projects are being implemented.
Most of the irrigation projects in Nagaland are centrally sponsored and many of them have been successfully implemented, Swu informed. However, he said his purpose as the parliamentary secretary of irrigation and flood control is to ensure a better system of operation and maintenance of projects.
Swu said he plans to visit potential areas for irrigation like Peren, Dimapur, Wokha and Mon to see what the irrigation department can do with regards provision of water to farmers in these areas. He maintained that agriculture is the mainstay of the society and therefore the development of agriculture is a must and to develop agriculture, he asserted that irrigation is necessary. Swu disclosed that the department has submitted a proposal to the central government for 2013-14; he did not divulge details about the proposal.
He also informed that the two departments of Irrigation & Flood Control, and Agriculture, are working in close coordination in order to benefit farmers.
Meanwhile Chief Engineer of the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Er. T. Yanger Ao, has notified officers and staff of the department to prepare well and do the necessary as and when the parliamentary secretary reaches their respective district headquarters.
Speaking at a felicitation programme here on Monday, the Chief Engineer informed that the Parliamentary Secretary will attend the officer’s conference of the department to be held in May this year where policies and programmes will be thoroughly discussed and action plan chalked out.
T. Yanger Ao added that some decisions and resolutions will also be made and submitted to the government for consideration and approval.
This department has been entrusted to create irrigation potential in all viable and feasible ‘command areas’ of the state by providing necessary infrastructure for reliable irrigation leading to sustainable agriculture for farmers of the state, according to their annual administrative report as tabled in the just concluded assembly session by Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation and Flood Control, Y. Vikheho Swu.
The report also suggested that the Department is targeting the completion of 120 MI schemes by 31st March 2013 which were taken up in 2012-13. It proposes to take up eight new schemes under flood management programme works in the state located in Dimapur, Wokha and Mokokchung. The sanction, with funding from Government of India, is awaited.
