‘Deptt. of irrigation and flood controls needs to upgrade their capacity’
Parliamentary Secretary, Geology and Mining, Industries and Flood Control, Y. Patton on Thursday said officials and staff of the department of irrigation and flood control needed to upgrade their capacity with new ideas and technology to handle the minor irrigation programme under the AIBP. The department implemented the minor irrigation programme which imparts importance of development of irrigation through irrigation schemes to farming community in the state. He said that capacity building of officers would benefit farming community and could reap success stories.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of a two day seminar on ‘Year of capacity building 2008’ conducted by the department of irrigation and food control at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, Patton urged the officers holding government machineries to work with sincerity for the benefit of rural masses, while asserting on recent announcement of central government to give more than Rs.600 crores for North East states for stream and river bank erosion programme.
Commenting on issue of posting of officers to outstations, Patton stated, “we have to be everywhere, whenever our services are required.” He said it was their responsibility to construct, maintain, renovate, open new areas and upgrade works to develop irrigation in the state. Patton further stated, Longleng, Kiphire and Peren should be upgraded to divisional levels, while sub-divisional offices be opened in areas like Baghty, Tseminyu, Pughboto etc. He also asked the department to propose creation of technical posts.
Delivering his keynote address, Er Mezakrol, chief engineer, I&FC, stated that Nagaland had an Ultimate Irrigation Potential for development from all sources at 1, 65,000 hectare area with 93,000 hectare irrigation potential area developed so far and net irrigates area of 49,000 hectare developed as per 3rd minor irrigation census report, 2000-01. The micro and macro irrigation systems function under various schemes executed by agriculture and allied departments. He stated that the department dealt under three heads: implementation of AIBP on minor irrigation projects, command area development and water management (CADWM) and anti erosion works on major river banks.
The technical sessions of the two day seminar would be led by Dr. A.C. Debnath, Assoc Professor, NERIWALM, Tezpur; B.C. Nath, Assoc professor, CAU Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh; and R. Mazumdar, Sr. Audit Officer, AG Nagaland.