Nagaland set to implement Groundwater Act

DIMAPUR — The Department of Geology and Mining is in the process of implementing the Nagaland Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2022 throughout the state of Nagaland.

The Nagaland Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2022, was formulated and passed by the state government in 2023 to regulate, develop and manage groundwater resources in the state.

The Act aims to systematically and scientifically exploit, through proper regulatory mechanism, groundwater resources of the state for long-term planning and sustainable management.

This was informed by the department in the report submitted during the 43rd State Geological Programming Board (SGBP) meeting held on August 25.

The major programmes under groundwater section during 2022-23 are exploratory drillings, construction and development of exploratory tube wells including feasibility, studies, litho-logging and pumping test.

The department also undertook construction and development of tube well under deposit work. 

A total of seven tube wells under “exploratory work” and two tube wells under “deposit work” have been constructed across the state, from April 2022 till date, the department informed.

The seven tube wells under “exploratory work” are located at Kandinu village in Tseminyu district with a depth of 61 metre, Aliba village in Mokokchung with a depth of 108 and 94 metre, Moalenden village in Mokokchung with a depth of100 and 61 metre, Meluri Town in Phek district with a depth of 64 metre, Yikhanu village in Tseminyu with 91 and 96 metre depth, NHAK Kohima with a depth of 85 metre, and Diphupar B village in Chümoukedima with a depth of 97 metre.

The two tube wells constructed under deposit work are located at PowerGrid sub-station in Mokokchung (68.58 metre depth) which generated a revenue of INR 2,16,354.48 and PowerGrid sub-station in Pfutsero, Phek (77.7 metre depth) with revenue generation of INR 2,36,607.

Further, keeping in view the rapid depletion of groundwater levels in dense settlement and industrial areas of Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts due to over-pumping, the department has taken up construction of rooftop rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater structures.

Two such structures were constructed at Yimkhiung Baptist Church, Diphupar ‘B’ under Chümoukedima district and at Baptist High School, Tening, in Peren district.

The department also informed that water level data from National Hydrographic Network Stations (NHNS) located in Dimapur, Peren, Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Tuensang and Mon districts in Nagaland, periodically collect data and send to them to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Guwahati.

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