What is the Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN launched by the Govt in Nagaland?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN aims to revive traditional water bodies.
- It seeks to restore degraded lands and enhance water-harvesting systems.
- Community participation is at the heart of this mission.
- Government has sanctioned Rs 140 crore for watershed projects.
- Over 6,500 farmers stand to benefit from the initiative.
New Delhi, Dec 8 (NationPress) The government has initiated the State-Level Watershed Mahotsav 2025 and Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima, aimed at revitalizing traditional water bodies, rehabilitating degraded landscapes, and enhancing water-harvesting practices, as stated in an official announcement on Monday.
This initiative seeks to meet these goals by fostering sustainable livelihoods through community engagement and integrating with programs like MGNREGA, according to the Ministry of Rural Development.
In launching the mission, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar emphasized that “water security is national security”, asserting that the future belongs to those who safeguard their natural resources.
He remarked, “Nagaland, with its rich ecological and cultural heritage, is leading the way in community-driven watershed management. The restoration of springs, refurbishment of water harvesting structures, and rejuvenation of land resources here is not merely an environmental initiative—it is vital for the well-being of future generations,” said the minister.
Notable accomplishments under the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and watershed development in Nagaland include the approval of 14 watershed projects, the sanctioning of Rs 140 crore (with Rs 80 crore already released), renovation of 555 water-harvesting structures, benefits to over 6,500 farmers, and the restoration of 120 springs, as highlighted in the statement.
This program signifies a significant step in the government’s dedication to transforming water-scarce areas into water-secure, climate-resilient environments, aligned with the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has consistently prioritized the development of the North Eastern States
Chandra Sekhar further noted that North Eastern States receive 90 percent central assistance as opposed to the usual 60:40 Centre-State ratio, according to the statement.
He pointed out that India possesses merely 4 percent of the world’s renewable freshwater resources while accommodating 18 percent of the global population.
Given the current per capita water availability falling below the water-stress threshold, initiatives like PMKSY and watershed programs have proven to be transformative—enhancing farmers’ incomes, boosting groundwater levels, and facilitating multiple crop cycles, as the statement concluded.