Separate department for water and soil conservation to be constituted: Minister Honchun Ngandam

 OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Rural Works Department (RWD) Minister Honchun Ngandam on Tuesday suggested for constituting a committee headed by chief secretary to discuss creation of a separate department for water and soil conservation in the state.

Responding to a short duration discussion brought in the house by BJP member Gabriel Denwang Wangsu regarding land and water conservation activities in the state, Ngandam pointed out that water and land conservation activities are being carried out various department like agriculture, public health engineering and forest including, RWD, for which no concrete steps could be taken.

“The RWD has a separate wing for land and water conservation with limited fund provision. However, in the last few years fund provisions were enhanced and the department are taking various activities for conservation of land and water resources in the state,” Ngandam said.

He added that more activities could be taken if there is a separate department to look after the issue. Wangsu raising the issue said that any land based development measures would be meaningless unless appropriate mechanism for conservation of soil and water is not ensured.

“Proposed location specific diversification will only be sustained by appropriate soil and water conservation works to check rampant water runoff, prevent loss of fertile soil, arrest pre-mature siltation, check land degradation, rejuvenate the drying catchments and enhance land capabilities,” he said.

He added that credible planning and resource management to tackle and mitigate the adverse effects of unscientific land use practices and climate change should be the primary concern for any government.

Considering the vast geographical area of the state (83743 sq km), adequate investment on integrated natural resources management - land, water & vegetation should be the common consensus of a welfare state, he pointed out. Wangsu pointed out that the seasonal and overall decline in springs affect both domestic water availability as well as agricultural use in remote villages of the state.

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