The Government of Nagaland signed Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) with the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the Nagaland Environmental Protection and Economic Development Society (NEPED) under the ELEMENT Project, at the Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima on 18th December 2025.

Delivering the keynote address, V. Shashank Shekhar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary & APC and Mission Director, ELEMENT, said that collaboration with various State and Central departments and agencies forms a core part of the project’s implementation strategy. He informed that discussions with multiple departments had been underway and that the signing of these MoAs marked the beginning of strength and expanded partnerships in the coming days.

He highlighted that the ELEMENT Project is jointly supported by the State Government, Government of India, and the World Bank. While the World Bank has extended a loan for the project, the responsibility of repayment rests jointly with the State Government and the Government of India. The overarching objective of the project, he said, is to improve the quality of life of the common people.

Speaking on the MoA with the Department of Land Resources, Shashank Shekhar emphasized the importance of springshed development, noting that water is fundamental to life and civilization. Drawing parallels with ancient river valley civilizations, he cautioned that unchecked extraction of water through borewells and tankers without adequate replenishment could lead to severe water scarcity in the future. The collaboration with DoLR, he said, aims to strengthen ongoing efforts toward water resource rejuvenation and sustainability.

On the partnership with NEPED, he underscored the critical role of research and development (R&D) in economic prosperity. NEPED, he noted, has a proven track record of successful R&D initiatives. Through new and enhanced R&D projects, the ELEMENT Project seeks to improve livelihoods, generate employment, and strengthen the local economy by promoting products manufactured within Nagaland.