Deputy General Manager of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Neeraj Khare, assured that the damaged sections of the Wokha-Merapani road would be repaired and maintained during the liability period. Maintenance work is set to begin within ten days, Khare stated during the District Planning and Development Board meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall in Wokha on 10 June 2024. He also highlighted an update on the status of the Wokha-Merapani road during this meeting.
Advisor for Agriculture and Chairman of DPDB Wokha, Mhathung Yanthan, who chaired the meeting, thanked the NHIDCL for assuring the board that maintenance work would resume at the earliest. He assured that the government, as well as all the stakeholders of the district, will extend all-out support for successful implementation.
‘Nagaland leads nation in springshed management’
Director of Land Resources, Albert Ngullie, while highlighting groundwater governance through springshed management in Wokha town, said that Nagaland is the leading state in the country on the springshed management programme initiated by the state government.
He highlighted that under the Department of Land Resources, the department has taken up three major plantation crops for Wokha District: Rubber, Arecanut, and coffee plantation. The other major project is springshed management.
While speaking on the concept of springshed, he said that it is a set of watersheds and aquifers that integrate into a system supplying water to the spring in the springshed. The case study is being done under six steps protocols: comprehensive mapping of springs and springsheds, setting up a data management system, understanding the current social and governance system of spring, hydrogeological mapping layout development and recharge area identification, development of springshed management protocol, and measuring hydrological and other impacts of spring revival activities.
He also said that the rock types observed were the alternate successions of shale and sandstone rocks in the study area. It has been observed that most of the springs’ potential hydrogeological recharge areas are in Mount Tiyi. The landscape-based approach is well studied for addressing groundwater-related issues, and a multi-stakeholder partnership model is highly recommended. Robust step-by-step planning is needed to address the issues. Focus should be more on groundwater management, further strengthening the thrust areas, and moving towards more inclusive groundwater governance.
Albert also said that this particular project will be successful through a convergence between the state, technical experts, and NGOs in the district, coordination among stakeholders, fund mobilization facilitation and supervision of works, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E), with support from local legislators and district administration.
Scientist, ACWADAM, Mukesh Patil, while highlighting springshed management for Wokha Town, said that envisioning the rejuvenation and restoration of Mount Tiyi involves ecological restoration with respect to water conservation, especially with springsheds that supply drinking and domestic water to the inhabitants of Wokha Town. The efforts need a holistic approach to understanding the current situation regarding demand and supply, studying water quality, and multi-stakeholder partnerships involving all line departments under Wokha District.
The board also discussed and recommended approval to the state government on the following agendas: registration of Wokha District Electrical Goods Retailers Union; establishment of Don Bosco School, Akuk; Government Primary School, Satsuphen; and Government Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) at Satsuphen, Wokha.
The Board Chairman also launched a booklet on the preparation of GPDP, the preparation of the Panchayat Development Plan 2024-2025 under the Department of Rural Development Agency (DRDA). The booklet is translated into the Lotha local dialect.
Later in the day, Advisor Mhathung Yanthan and other board members visited Doyang to inspect the ongoing Clean Doyang Mission.
Yanthan also thanked the State Disaster Management Authority and Wokha District Administration for taking up the Clean Doyang Mission with a holistic approach. He called upon the stakeholders of the State as well as Wokha District, in particular, to come and be a part of the Clean Doyang Mission.
MLA YM Humtsoe also attended the meeting. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, Ajit Kumar Ranjan, proposed the welcome address and introduced new members to the board.
Assessment Team formed to address environmental hazards at Doyang Dam Reservoir
The Deputy Commissioner & Chairman of DDMA, Wokha, has set up an assessment team to address the prevention and mitigation of environmental hazards caused by the irresponsible disposal of solid waste in the upstream area of the Doyang Dam Reservoir, managed by NEEPCO under Wokha District.
The committee members tasked with the mission-mode cleaning and removal of plastic waste at Doyang Lake are:
1. EAC Sungro, Nodal officers, DDMA Wokha,
2. District Tourism Officer,
3. Executive Engineer, Water Resources,
4. Divisional Forest Officer, Doyang Range,
5. District Commandant, SDRF Wokha,
6. DGM(C) NEEPCO Doyang and
7. District Aquatic & Fisheries Officer.
DDMA Wokha Invites Volunteers for Clean Doyang Mission
The District Disaster Management Authority, Wokha has invited volunteers from NGOs, stakeholders and individuals from any corner to participate in the Clean Doyang Mission to mitigate the hazardous plastic waste at Doyang Dam Reservoir.
The registration of the volunteers will start from 8am onwards from 11th June, 2024 near ‘My Resort’.
Any interested organisations/person can contact Er Benrio Kithan, EE, Water Resources Department (Logistics Chief, CDM) as 9612561350/8787804262