A meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, J Alam, IAS with Additional Secretary & Mission Director National Water Mission, G Ashok Kumar, IAS to review the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the State was held on 25th October 2021 at Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, Kohima.
Ashok Kumar stated that the Prime Minister of India launched the JSA under the theme Catch the Rain campaign on 22nd March, 2021 (World Water Day) to nudge stakeholders to create appropriate rainwater harvesting system, suitable to climate and soil conditions with people’s active participation. He added that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign covers all rural blocks and urban areas of all Districts across the country. The main objectives and activities of the campaign in is to harvesting maximum rainwater and saving it, enumerate, geo tagging, making inventory and preparing a Scientific plan for water conservation & water harvesting structures, setting up Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts and to generate awareness and ensure people’s participation to make Jal Andolan a Jan Andolan.
The Mission Director also requested all concerned departments and local administration to ensure roof top Rain Water Harvesting Structures in all government buildings, take up construction of appropriate water harvesting structures, rejuvenation of rivers and streams, small rivulets, revival of wet lands and take steps for removal of encroachments in flood plain areas, water bodies and their channels. He also called for mass awareness campaign across the State to disseminate the importance of rain water harvesting and conserve water bodies.
The Department of Water Resources, Nagaland while making a presentation at the meeting stated that under NABARD, the Department has taken initiatives for implementing water conservation projects through creation of water bodies and water harvesting structures. The Department also stated that a total number of 1368 water bodies has been identified across Nagaland. A virtual Jal Shakti Kendra has been set up at Wokha District to act as knowledge centre to disseminate various information pertaining to water resources, its judicious use and conservation. The Department also informed that the virtual Jal Shakti Kendra in other Districts of the State would be set up soon.
Chief Secretary, J Alam in his closing remarks thanked the Mission Director National Water Mission for his interest in the implementation of Jal Shakti Abhiyan in the State and hoped that the National Water Mission will come up with schemes and programmes more suitable for a hilly region like Nagaland. He also assured that the State Departments will address the various issues at the earliest and work towards achieving the Mission objectives.
(Akummeren, IA)
