Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 23(EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday inaugurated three new projects -- Hydrology Project Convention Centre (HPCC), Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and peizometer -- constructed under National Hydrology Project (NHP), at 4th Mile Dimapur.
NHP is a central sector scheme co-ordinated and implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with World Bank’s assistance. In Nagaland, the department of Water Resource is the implementing agency.
Speaking about the three new projects, Rio said that it take the state a long way in modernising and improving water resources management system, as well as help increase agricultural productivity by adopting better farming practices.
He expressed hope that with this technology in place, people of the state will adopt better practices in utilisation of water. Maintaining that land and water are the most valuable resources, he said ‘we have to do our duty to conserve and develop habit of using water judiciously’.
He lamented water sources like rivers, streams and traditional ring wells drying up due to exploitation of forests. ‘70% of our citizens is into agri-allied sector and thus, the department should play an important role in sensitising the farmers,’ he said.
Chief Engineer and Nodal officer (NHP) of Water Resource Development (WRD), Hotovi Ayemi, informed that the Union Cabinet conveyed the approval for implementation of NHP on June 23, 2016 and the project will continue till March 2024.
He updated that the project implementing plan for Nagaland had been approved at an estimated cost of INR 23 crore. He added that under the project, the department was able to establish hydromet observation networks, Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) consisting of a telemetric network of automated rainfall stations, automated weather stations and water level recording stations along the major rivers.
Ayemi said that the department has successfully constructed three piezometers in Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur districts to check the rise and fall on groundwater level. However, considering the drastic climate changes globally, leading to the depletion in surface water, ‘there is an urgency to explore the ground water, for which the department envisages to propose additional piezometers in the remaining districts to be accommodated under this programme’, he added.
He updated that the department has set up a water quality lab, for which furnishing has been completed while procurement of glassware and accessories is under process. He assured that data obtained from all the aforementioned sources would be stored for easy accessibility by the users.
Further, he requested the government to take cognisance of the cadre review proposals, saying that it has become necessary as the operation and maintenance of all the assets created during the phase of the project would require well-trained personnel in place for sustenance of the activities beyond the project period.
Executive Engineer and Project Manager for HPCC (NHP), WRD, Keduvizo Sophie said that the HPCC project commenced on July 19, 2019 and completed on September 30, 2021 at a total cost of INR 248.34 lakh. HPCC will disseminate knowledge and experiences gained on flood forecasting, irrigation benchmarking, surveying with latest technologies and mitigating flood inundation, he said.
He went on to inform that piezometer is used for systematic measurement of water-level to provide essential data needed to evaluate changes in the resources over time, to develop ground-water models and forecast trends, and to design, implement and monitor the effectiveness of ground-water management and protection programmes.
The project, which commenced on May 8, 2021, completed on November 13, 2021 at a cost of INR 17.44 lakh, it was informed.
AWS is designed to monitor meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction, evapotranspiration, atmosphere pressure, solar radiation and rainfall, informed Sophie.
Namri Nchang, Advisor for Water Resource Department, reminded that there are 12 existing projects under NHP in Dimapur, of which some are in progress, some completed and some to be initiated soon.
Advisor of Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, Agricultural Production Commissioner Kikheto Sema, and Advisor for Power department Tovihoto Ayemi were also present during the inaugural programme.
On Naga political issue
Meanwhile, Rio told journalists he along with Deputy CM Y Patton and United Democratic Alliance chairman TR Zeliang met with the Prime Minister as well as Home Minister recently. He said the central leaders were “serious for Naga solution” and had assured to send the interlocutor AK Mishra to Nagaland (currently in the state) to have thorough discussion with all concerned ‘till we find a meeting point’.
“We are meeting him (Mishra) regularly and he is having consultation (with stakeholders),” he said.
Rio also stated that they (state government) want to give the interlocutor a ‘free hand’ to contact and discuss with the people who are part of the Naga peace talks.
‘The ball is in court of all the stakeholders and public support is required,’ he said.
When asked about the recent report of adulterated petrol in the state, he replied that the government will do whatever is possible.
Maintaining that the government cannot watch “everybody’s kitchen”, he said the public should be vigilant and report any malpractices so that the government can take action.