Training on ‘springshed management’ underway in Kohima

DIMAPUR — A 3-day training programme on ‘Springshed management,’ organised by the Nagaland Water Resources department in collaboration with Central Ground Water Board, Guwahati, Ministry of Jal Shakti, commenced on Tuesday at the Chief Engineer's Office, Water Resources department, Kohima.

Additional Chief Engineer, Water Resources department, Sobu Angami, in his keynote address, noted that the northern and north-eastern Indian states, being part of the Himalayan region, depend primarily on springs and glaciers for water needs across domestic, agricultural, and livestock sectors, a DIPR report stated.

In Nagaland too, the chief engineer stated that Nagaland's water supply mainly comes from springs, which feed streams and rivers used for irrigation.

Unfortunately, these spring sources are dwindling due to various factors, including exploitation, population growth, land use changes, and climate change.

Sobu emphasised the need for springshed management, urging concerned departments and stakeholders to collaborate for spring revival. He stressed the importance of implementing this initiative at both policy and field levels promptly.

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He also mentioned that the government is now focusing on the importance of the springs and conducting spring census, irrigation census and water bodies’ census, and with the Brahmaputra Board implementing a number of springshed management schemes in the north-eastern states.

Additionally, he emphasised the Water Resources Department's role in implementing Springshed Management, despite it being a relatively new area for the department.

He, therefore, called upon the participants to take a thorough study about the kind of intervention required and gain knowledge from the resources persons during the three-day training so as to implement Springshed Management Projects in all the districts.

The resource persons for the 3-day training are Shasinlo Kent, Anenuo Pienyu and Mophi Mili, who will cover topics such as spring studies, springshed management, and conduct discussions, interactions, and field visits.