Kohima, January 17 (DIPR): The North East Regional review meeting for Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) got under way on January 17, 2012 with Minister for Urban Development Dr. Shurhozelie gracing the inaugural function as the chief guest at the Conference Hall of Directorate of Land Resources, Kohima.
The chief guest said that the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, Government of India in partnership with the state departments of Land Resources has been implementing watershed programme that aims at maintaining the ecosystem services while also meeting livelihood needs through active involvement of the community for more productive and sustainable use of the available resources. He said that the implementation of watershed programmes in Nagaland fits well in to the jhum system and is well accepted by the people.
He said that the Government of Nagaland created the department of Land Resources as a single dedicated agency to implement watershed programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development and said that the State department has successfully implemented IWDP projects in the State which has bought immense benefit to the watershed community through economic empowerment and environment improvement. He also mentioned that due to the successful implementation of IWDP, two State missions, namely, Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission and the Nagaland Bio-Resource Mission have been successfully launched.
The chief guest also expressed his gratitude to the officials of Government of India for extending all possible support to the North East and also extended his appreciation to the State department of Land Resources, Nagaland for taking up the challenge and bringing visible achievement through sincere and dedicated effort of the officers.
Presenting the keynote address, Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resource, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, Prabhudayal Meena said that the department of Land Resources, Nagaland is on the right track and that the Government of Nagaland has taken the project seriously and requested the other NE States to follow suit. He encouraged the NE States to work on their watershed projects and said that GoI and the Ministry of Rural Development are willing to support and help the States. He also mentioned that the States should finish up their projects by the end of the years and data entry and MIS needs to be entered at the earliest for monitory purpose. He also said that the DPR needs to be prepared very carefully and uploaded in the websites.
While giving a short speech Director IWMP, Department of Land Resource, Ministry of Rural Development, V.M. Arola said that the Government of India is giving utmost importance to watershed programme and congratulates the NE State for completing 74% of the IWMP projects in the region which is 1% higher than that of the national average. He advised that NE States to work hard and complete the projects in a time bound manner.
Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir IAS chaired the programme and gave the introductory remark. He said that in a time when everyone is concerned about the environment and its condition, the watershed programme has gained more importance and the programme should be taken up in a more serious manner.
Chairman, State Level Nodal Agency (IWMP) and Secretary M. Paton gave the welcome address while short preview of IWMP in Nagaland was presented by Additional director, Department of Land Resources, Nagaland Mhathung Yanthan.
Earlier the chief guest released the Watershed Atlas of Nagaland, prepared by the department of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland and North East Space Application Centre, Department of Space, GoI while Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resource, Ministry of Rural Development, GoI released the Capacity Building Strategy For Implementing Of IWMP In Nagaland, prepared by the Department of Land Resources, Government of
Delegates from all 8 sister States of NE are taking part in the ongoing review meeting which is being hosted by Department of Land Resource, Government of Nagaland.
