NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Rajya Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Tai Tagak, on Tuesday participated in the first meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, held at Samanvay, Parliament House, New Delhi.
The meeting, chaired by Committee Chairperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, discussed key issues concerning water-resource management, climate change, water security, irrigation efficiency and flood management across the country. Members of the committee and senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Department of Water Resources and other concerned departments, organisations and public sector undertakings attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Tagak stressed the need to strengthen water-resource management and conservation, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan and North-Eastern regions. He highlighted the importance of effective stormwater management amid rapid urbanisation, spring-water management and dam-safety measures.
A major focus of the deliberations was the growing threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), particularly in the Himalayan region. The committee examined the impact of climate change on glacier melt, the formation and expansion of glacial lakes, black carbon deposits and the potential consequences of GLOFs for downstream communities, infrastructure, water security and disaster management.
The need to strengthen scientific monitoring, early-warning systems, risk assessment and preparedness measures to mitigate GLOF-related risks was also emphasised. Members discussed rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and sustainable water management practices.
The committee reviewed the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ initiative, with particular emphasis on expanding micro-irrigation and improving Command Area Development. Discussions centred on enhancing irrigation efficiency, promoting the judicious use of water and encouraging drip, sprinkler and piped irrigation systems for sustainable agricultural development.
Special attention was also given to water-resource challenges in the North-Eastern region, including soil erosion, groundwater recharge, pollution control and the management and restoration of water bodies. The committee reviewed the pressures on water bodies in the Indian Himalayan and North-Eastern regions arising from urbanisation, hydropower projects, construction and other human activities.
Projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) were also reviewed at the state and national levels. The discussions covered modern irrigation technologies, efficient water use and irrigation practices in areas where three crops are cultivated annually.
The committee further deliberated on recurring floods, seasonal water scarcity, water-storage infrastructure, flood-control measures and climate-induced changes in hydrological patterns. The causes and impacts of floods, cloudbursts and landslides, along with mitigation and relief measures, riverbank and floodplain protection, and challenges posed by unregulated occupation and encroachment, also figured in the discussions.
The meeting underscored the importance of scientific, sustainable and integrated water-resource management, conservation of natural water systems and stronger preparedness to address flood risks and emerging challenges associated with climate change.