State still faces an acute shortage of water: CS

State chief secretary J Alam has said that Nagaland still faces an acute shortage of water, especially during lean season.
Speaking at the consultative meeting on Barak River Basin management plan & collaboration between Indian -EU initiative and Brahmaputra board, which held in the conference hall of CS, Nagaland Civil Secretariat Kohima on Tuesday, Alam disclosed that five districts in Nagaland have been declared as water distress districts despite receiving plenty of rainfall.
According to a DIPR report, the chief secretary pointed out that various projects taken up by the Brahmaputra board have been very helpful to the state. he said that the Barak river basin management plan would also be equally beneficial for the state.
Alam expressed hope that the project would open up many opportunities for future action plans and also help in connecting with the right people for making further future plans in regard to water management in the state.
The chief secretary urged the Brahmaputra board to make a separate plan for Nagaland so it could best leverage the resources available in terms of water management within the state for the benefit of the state.
Acknowledging the Brahmaputra board and the team, Alam said they were a reservoir of knowledge and could bring expertise from various sources. He said Nagaland would look forward to further action in water conservation projects in future.
Giving introductory remarks, GIZ director, Laura Sustersic, said that the strategic partnership between the EU and India aims to share best practices, adapt European experiences to the Indian context, and develop sustainable solutions for managing water resources.
Laura said that Water Management was a critical area for cooperation, supporting economic development, peace, security, agriculture, fisheries, energy, and the environment.
She also highlighted GIZ’s role in implementing projects to support India in water management, focusing on the Ganges Brahmaputra hydrological system and the Barak River basin.
Laura also stated that Nagaland must prioritise environmentally friendly sustainable development options and find ways to protect its beautiful natural environment while still pursuing development goals.
Brahmaputra Board chairman, Dr Ranbir Singh, said that water shortage was a very serious issue faced by the State. he stressed the urgent need to address the issue to ensure water security in the state. Singh said since Nagaland also fell under water basins it was important to understand the issues, challenges and problems in this part of the basin in Nagaland and the potential areas that should be developed.
Singh called upon all the stake holders to take their roles seriously and work collectively in managing water resources for future generations.
IEWI/GIZ team gave a PowerPoint presentation on ‘overview of the India-EU partnership and achievements in river basin management’. Brahmaputra Board general manager Abhay Kumar gave a closing remark on the Barak Basin management plan and chief engineer WRD, Er. Thepfusalie Gozie presented the vote of thanks.
During the open discussion session, senior officials of various line departments highlighted their challenges and prospects about the project.