GUWAHATI : Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu has called for transforming the North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM) into a premier national institution on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), stressing the need for a stronger institutional response to the growing challenges of water and land resource management.
Addressing the 6th Governing Body meeting of NERIWALM in Guwahati on Monday, Wangsu commended the institute’s recent academic achievements, including the introduction of MTech and PhD programmes in Water Resource Management, strengthening of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited laboratory facilities, and development of field laboratories and demonstration units.
“The institute should not remain merely a regional training and research organisation,” the minister said, urging stakeholders to envision a larger national role for NERIWALM.
Highlighting the urgency of water conservation, Wangsu pointed out that nearly 70 per cent of water bodies in the country are polluted, with over 350 polluted stretches identified across 323 rivers. In contrast, he said, the Northeast has recorded a Water Quality Index score of 88.12 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 70.28 per cent.
Referring to the environmental challenges faced by Arunachal Pradesh, the minister said rivers originating in the state carry massive quantities of silt and sand into the Brahmaputra basin, leading to river course changes and damage to agricultural land in both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Citing reports and studies, Wangsu informed the Governing Body that around 17.69 lakh hectares of land in Arunachal Pradesh are affected by acidic soil conditions, while nearly 669.35 million tonnes of soil are eroded annually in the state.
“Agricultural land is limited, and climate change along with severe soil erosion is putting additional stress on monsoon and temperature patterns, leading to low agricultural productivity, floods, landslides and excessive precipitation,” he said.
He stressed that watershed protection, springshed rejuvenation, catchment area treatment and soil conservation in Arunachal Pradesh are critical not only for the state but also for downstream ecological sustainability and water security in Assam.
The minister sought formal collaboration with NERIWALM in areas such as soil and land use surveys, watershed and springshed management, catchment treatment planning, land capability classification and soil characterisation studies.
He also proposed establishment of a Technological Resource Centre or a State Soil Museum in Arunachal Pradesh, which could eventually evolve into a Centre of Excellence for land and water resource knowledge.
Calling for institutional strengthening, Wangsu advocated creation of dedicated schools and specialised centres in water resource management, expansion of postgraduate and professional training programmes, and recruitment of qualified faculty and scientists. He also stressed the need for pay scale restructuring in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms to attract and retain talent.
Earlier, NERIWALM Director Ujjal Moni Hazarika presented the agenda for the meeting, which was approved by the Governing Body members.
Union Jal Shakti Minister and Governing Body president C R Patil virtually inaugurated the International Hostel-cum-Guest House at the NERIWALM campus in Tezpur. The concluding remarks were delivered by Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, vice-president of the Governing Body.
Arunachal Pradesh Health and Water Resources Minister Biyuram Wahge also attended the meeting.
