Kohima reviews Barak catchment restoration project backed by India, Germany

Kohima, 1^st September 2026 (Nokinketer News): A meeting to review the proposed “Conservation and Restoration of Catchment Areas of the Barak River” project covering Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Kohima on Monday.

Chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ruopfukuotuo Noudi, the meeting was attended by representatives of the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCORMS) and officials from various state departments.

NERCORMS presented the proposed project, which will be implemented by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong, with financial support from the Government of India and Germany’s KfW Development Bank.

The project aims to tackle environmental challenges in the Barak basin, including deforestation, soil erosion, wetland degradation, shifting cultivation, riverbank erosion and increasing flood risks caused by unsustainable land use and poor watershed management.

Planned interventions include catchment restoration, landscape planning, soil and water conservation, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, springshed management, agroforestry, horticulture, livelihood promotion and capacity building for local communities. The project is expected to improve forest cover, enhance climate resilience, reduce flood risks and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The meeting also reviewed the ongoing feasibility study and discussed inputs required from various departments on community forests, customary land ownership, water resources, agriculture, soil health, biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge.

Officials stressed the need for a community-driven approach with active participation of all stakeholders, including women, and proposed appointing a state nodal officer to coordinate the project.

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