Question : SOIL CONSERVATION



(a) whether the soil conservation work is being carried out by the Department of Agriculture in the country;

(b) if so, the amount incurred thereon during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government are aware that the funds are being misappropriated in the name of soil conservation by various State Governments;

(d) if so, whether the Government have verified the work performed and the amount spent in this regard;

(e) if so, the achievements thereof;

(f) if not, whether the Government propose to set up a Commission to review the work in this regard; and
(g) if so, the time by when and if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)

(a) Yes Sir. The soil conservation work in the country is being carried out by the State Governments under their own plan schemes. In addition, the State Governments also implement the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Department of Agriculture.

(b) The various soil and water conservation schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation are as follows:

1. Soil Conservation in the catchments of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone Rivers.

2. Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas in N.E. Region.

3. National Watershed Development Project in Rainfed Areas.

4. Reclamation of Alkali Soils.

A statement showing funds released to various States under these programmes during the last three years is annexed.

The details of the Soil Conservation Programmes implemented by the State Governments are maintained by the respective States.

(c) There is no instance of misappropriation of funds reported so far.

(d) to (g) The matter do not arise.


STATEMENT

STATEMENT SHOWING STATEWISE RELEASE OF FUNDS UNDER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COOPERATION DURING 1997-98, 1998-99 & 1999-2000

(Rs. In lakhs)
Sl.No. States/UTs 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000

1. Andhra Pradesh 1368.00 1551.50 1665.00

2. Arunachal Pradesh 210.00 181.00 127.00

3. Assam 145.00 170.00 120.00

4. Bihar 98.00 125.00 0.00

5. Gujarat 966.00 2433.00 2480.00 6. Haryana 180.00 465.77 245.00

7 Himachal Pradesh 770.00 1068.20 762.00

8. Jammu & Kashmir 566.00 637.00 665.00

9. Karnataka 3050.00 3115.00 3200.00 10. Kerala 500.00 1502.88 390.00 11. Madhya Pradesh 3028.00 4013.59 4750.00 12. Maharashtra 3320.00 4360.00 1500.00 13. Manipur 605.00 265.00 460.00 14. Meghalaya 120.00 360.00 410.00 15. Mizoram 525.00 1140.00 866.00 16. Nagaland 460.00 1000.00 900.00 17. Orissa 1300.00 662.39 500.00 18. Punjab 242.60 321.00 123.00 19. Rajasthan 4198.00 5559.00 5130.00 20. Sikkim 90.00 150.00 200.00 21. Tamil Nadu 1500.00 2230.00 2075.00 22. Tripura 261.00 480.00 551.00 23. Uttar Pradesh 3255.40 4184.44 3575.03 24. West Bengal 110.00 620.00 750.00 25. Goa 0.00 8.00 3.00 26. Andaman Nicobar Island 25.00 65.00 34.00 27. Dadara and Nagar Haveli 1.00 1.00 0.00
26894.00 36668.77 31481.03