Manipur Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh urged in a meeting that, ADC Chairmen and Members to join hand and co-ordinate with respective DCs in taking up water conservation/harvesting works in different villages. Today Mr. N. Biren Singh chaired a meeting of Chairmen and Members of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of different hill districts regarding rain water conservation under different schemes at Chief Minister’s Secretariat today.

Today Chief Minister suggested in his speech, the them to hold meetings regularly and communicate among them so that maximum work is implemented before ADC elections likely to be held in May/June next year. The Chief Minister said that all the resolutions taken in the meetings should be translated into action instead of simply keeping in files.

Stating that Panchayati Raj Institutions of different valley districts had already started executing water harvesting/conservation works in their respective areas, the Chief Minister urged the ADCs to expedite works in hill districts as well. Stating that the State Government is planning to construct around 100 check dams at different foothills with financial assistance from the Centre for water harvesting, the Chief Minister urged the ADCs and DCs to identify streams where these dams can be constructed.

During the 15^th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Shri N. Biren said, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi instructed the Chief Ministers of all the States to mainly focus on rain water harvesting and water conservation works while implementing Central Government sponsored schemes like MGNREGS. Prior to this directive, the State Government had already started taking up water harvesting schemes worth Rs. 2 crore each at seven different places of hill areas in view of people’s extreme woes due to acute water scarcity during lean season in hill districts, the Chief Minister said.

Shri N. Biren also assured to look into matters relating to pay, vacant posts and warrant of precedence of ADC Chairman and Members at the earliest. He also urged them to find a way to expedite works under BADP.

ADC Chairmen of Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati, Sadar Hills and Churachandpur, Additional Chief Secretary (RD&PR) Shri M.H. Khan and Additional Chief Secretary (TA & Hills) Shri Letkhogin Haokip also graced the occasion as dignitaries. ADC Members, DCs of different hill districts, officials of ADCs and different Government Departments were also present in the meeting. Officials of RD & PR, TA & Hills, Planning and Minor Irrigation/Water Resources spoke on different water conservation schemes taken up by these Departments at the meeting. Chandel DC Shri Krishna Kumar also shared his thought in the meeting.

Water conservation/harvesting works are being executed across the country under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (Water Conservation Campaign) launched on July 1, 2019 under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Ministry was formed by merging two Ministries namely, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in May this year. The campaign focuses on water conservation and rain water harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies, re-use of water and recharging structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh held another meeting with elected members of Panchayati Raj Institutions on rain water harvesting and ground water conservation on June 27, 2019. The State Government has started implementing rain water harvesting through Minor Irrigation Department and funds from MGNREGS, Finance Commission grant and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).