Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 8
The Water Resources Department Engineers’ Association Nagaland (WRDEAN) has brought out a vision document outlining ways to sustainably use water resources of the State.
The document was recently released by Nagaland Chief Secretary, J Alam during the biennial general conference 2021 of the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations (FONSESA).
“The document framed by WRDEAN encompasses key issues related to the water sector. It attempts to address the present status and project the future scenarios. With a vision to be self-reliant and develop its resources in a sustainable manner, we all should work together in unison, with team spirit,” stated Er Hotovi Ayemi, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department (WRD) Nagaland.
He said that the activities of the WRD in the state are paramount, especially in the present day context where challenges to plan and manage the available water resources to meet the demand and supply are increasing.
“With change in climatic patterns, demography and increasing water demands, a big challenge lies in front of us to harness the water judiciously and adopt better water management practices, be it at home, work or in the field,” stated WRDEAN President, Er Thepfusalie Guozi and General Secretary Er Hutovi Swu.
They said that an attempt has been made in this vision document to highlight the present water scenario of the state, its scopes, challenges, future needs and demand.
The Association hoped that the document would serve as the basis for providing irrigation services to farmers with end to end solution; take up works to protect the land and landed properties from floods; manage the river basins with appropriate institutional structure; and granting approvals by the State Government.
“Such approvals among others will be to initiate many new activities and liaise with counterpart departments in central ministries and other external donor agencies,” the vision document stated, adding that it will also be a guiding document for the Finance Department for higher budget allocation to meet the projected needs of the state in the coming years.
Nagaland is dissected by a number of seasonal and perennial rivers and rivulets. There is no snow fed rivers and these rivers are dendritic in nature. Whereas about 65% of the drainages flows westwards into the Brahmaputra basin, about 30% flows towards East and joins the Chindwin river in Myanmar, and the remaining 5% flows southward into Barak basin.
Stating that climate change and adaptation has to be an underpinned objective in the water sector, the WRD envisage working with a definite road map for taking up such challenges.
The document also illustrates how developmental action in the water sector can make best possible contribution to developmental objectives of the state and minimize damage due to water induced disasters.
