During the District Planning and Development Board meeting held at DC’s conference hall, Wokha on Monday, the Deputy General Manager (NHIDCL) Neeraj Khare assured that during the liability period the damaged portion and maintenance work under Wokha-Merapani road will be done by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), DIPR informed. The maintenance works will be starting within ten (10) days, while highlighting the status of Wokha-Merapani road progress, Khare said.
Advisor for Agriculture and Chairman DPDB Wokha, Mhathung Yanthan, who chaired the meeting, thanked the NHIDCL for assuring the board for resuming the maintenance work at the earliest and has assured that the government as well as all the stakeholders of the district will extend all out support for successful implementation.
Also at the DPDB meeting, the Director of Land Resources, Albert Ngullie, highlighted that under the Department of Land Resources, the department has taken up three (3) Major Plantation Crops for Wokha District of which are rubber, areca nut, coffee plantation and the other major project is springshed management.
While speaking on the concept of springshed, Ngullie said that it is a set of watersheds and aquifers that integrate into a system that supplies water to the spring in the springshed, and the case study is being done under Six (6) 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 springshed management protocol and measuring hydrological and other impacts of spring revival activities.
The Director of Land Resources also said that the rock-type observed was the alternate successions of Shale and Sandstone rocks in the study area. It’s been observed that, most of the springs’ potential hydrogeological recharge areas in the Mount Tiyi. The landscape-based approach is well studied for addressing groundwater related issues. A multi-stakeholder partnership model is highly recommended. A robust step by step planning is needed to address the issues. Focus should be more on Groundwater management further strengthening the thrust areas and move towards more inclusive groundwater governance.
Ngullie also said that this particular project will be successful through a convergence between state, technical experts and NGOs in the District, Coordination among stakeholders, fund mobilization facilitation and supervision of works, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and within able support from Local Legislators and District Administration.
Scientist, ACWADAM, Mukesh Patil while highlighting springshed management for Wokha Town said that envisioning rejuvenation and restoration of Mount Tiyi, the Ecological Restoration of Mount Tiyi, with respect to water conservation, especially with springshed that are supplying drinking and domestic water to the habitant of Wokha Town. The efforts need a holistic approach on understanding the current situation on the demand and supply aspect and study water quality and multi-stakeholders’ partnership involving all line departments under Wokha District.
The board also discussed and recommended for 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 preparation of GPDP, a preparation of Panchayat Development Plan 2024-2025 under the Department of Rural Development Agency (DRDA). The booklet is translated into the Lotha Local dialect.
MLA, Y.M. Humtsoe also attended the meeting. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Ajit Kumar Ranjan proposed the welcome address and introduced new members to the board.
