Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has  called for strengthening the Irrigation and Water Resources Department (IWRD), citing its expanding responsibilities and persistent shortage of manpower and technical expertise, official sources said.

 

Lalduhoma made the remarks yesterday while chairing a meeting at the to review measures to strengthen the department. IWRD Minister PC Vanlalruata and senior officials from the General Administration Department, DP&AR, Finance Department and IWRD attended the meeting.

 

The Chief Minister said several departments had been functioning with inadequate manpower for years and could weaken further because of staff shortages. He said the IWRD had remained in virtually the same position for the past 19 years despite a significant expansion in its activities and responsibilities.

 

The department, earlier known as the Minor Irrigation department, is now involved in irrigation development as well as river basin planning, springshed development, integrated water resources management, hydrological data management, flood management and warning systems, multipurpose reservoirs and groundwater development, he said.

 

During the meeting, IWRD chief engineer K Hamleta presented proposals for strengthening the department and briefed the meeting on the proposed follow-up measures, the sources said. The discussions focused on addressing the department’s manpower and technical requirements in view of its expanding role, it said.