In a pivotal advancement for land resource management and sustainable development in Nagaland, Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) were signed between the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (NePED) on Wednesday. The signing ceremony took place at the Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
During the keynote address, V. Shashank Shekhar, Additional Chief Secretary and APC and Mission Director of ELEMENT, emphasized the critical need for inter-departmental collaboration to effectively implement development initiatives. He outlined several key focus areas for the project, which include springshed development aimed at improving water resources, harnessing research and development as a catalyst for economic growth, and fostering human resource development to attain long-term sustainability.
The event featured short addresses from various officials, including Hukato N, Additional Director of Land Resources, and Kovi Meyase, NCS, Team Leader of NePED. Both speakers stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among departments to improve land-based livelihoods and advocate for sustainable land-use practices throughout the state.
Chaired by Kumar Ramnikant, Secretary of Industries and Commerce and Project Director of ELEMENT, the program culminated in the formal signing of the MoAs. Limanenla, Joint Secretary of Agriculture, expressed her gratitude in the vote of thanks and provided essential project insights, disclosing that the total project cost is Rs 574.63 crore. The ambitious project aims to benefit 22 villages across 16 districts and is slated for a five-year implementation period.
