Question : National Watershed Project

(a) whether the Ministry has launched a National Watershed Project ‘Neeranchal’ to improve incremental conservation outcomes and agricultural yields for communities in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the quantum of loan provided by World Bank along with the terms and conditions;

(c) the details of the various components and features of the Neeranchal Project;

(d) the criteria for allocating funds to various States under the project;

(e) the funds allocated and released under the project during each of the last four years and the current year, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh;

(f) the details of the States benefited through the project during the said period; and

(g) the other important steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Ministry for watershed development in the country?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d):Yes Sir. The Government had entered into an agreement on 14.01.2016 with the World Bank for financing a technical assistance project named ‘Neeranchal’ National Watershed Project to support the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY). The project was to be implemented at the Central level in the Department of Land Resources and in 9 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.The total outlay of the project was Rs. 2142.30 crore (US $ 357 million); out of which 50% amount was to be provided as long term loan by the World Bank in International Development Association (IDA) financing. As per the Financing Agreement signed with the World Bank, the closing date of the project was 31st March 2022. However, due to technical reasons, World Bank closed the Neeranchal project with effect from 22nd July, 2019.

The project was having four components namely, (a) Central Institutional and Capacity Building, (b) National Innovation Support, (c) WDC-PMKSY Implementation Support in Participating States and (d) Project Management and Coordination. As per the project design, the component WDC-PMKSY Implementation Support in Participating States was to be implemented by the 9 States mentioned above for which a provision of 85% of the Project cost had been made. The sharing pattern of funds between Centre and State for this component was 60:40.

(e) & (f): Details of funds released to the States under the project during each of the last four years, and the current year/ State-wise are given in Annexure. Since, Uttar Pradesh was not a Neeranchal Project State, no fund was released to them.


(g) Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development has been implementing Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) for development of rainfed and degraded areas in the country.

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Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (e) & (f) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1570 due for reply on 20.9.2020

Details of funds released to the States under Neeranchal National Watershed Project during the last four years and the current year

Sl.
No. State Funds released (Rs. in crore)
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
1 Andhra Pradesh 3.64 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 Chhattisgarh 2.31 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
3 Gujarat 1.94 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
4 Jharkhand 3.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
5 Madhya Pradesh 2.41 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
6 Maharashtra 2.28 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
7 Odisha 1.27 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
8 Rajasthan 1.60 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 Telangana 1.38 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
Total 19.87 4.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Note:
“Neeranchal” project was approved by the Government in 2015-16. Finance agreement with the World Bank was signed in January 2016. The project was implemented in 9 States only.