(a) whether Watershed Development Project has been launched in Madhya Pradesh during the
Ninth Plan;
(b) the total hectares of waste and degraded land developed through Watershed Development
Project during the Ninth Plan period in that State;
(c) whether the Government propose to launch such more projects in the State during
the Tenth Plan; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUBHASH MAHARIA):
(a) to (d) The Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development is
implementing two programmes, namely Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP)
and Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) for development/treatment of wastelands/degraded
lands in Madhya Pradesh under the Guidelines for Watershed Development w.e.f. 1.4.1995.
Apart from releasing funds for the ongoing projects under IWDP and DPAP, new projects for
development of wastelands/ degraded lands in an area of 2.52 lakh hectares and 5.80 lakh
hectares have been sanctioned under IWDP and DPAP respectively during the 9th Plan Period
(1997-98 to 4.12.2001) in the State. In addition, new projects to cover 50,000 hectares
have been prioritised for sanction under IWDP for Madhya Pradesh during current year.
The implementation of the two Programmes will continue during the Tenth Plan Period.
The project proposals under DPAP are sanctioned by the Department of Land Resources in
the pre-identified Development Blocks while projects under IWDP are generally sanctioned
in non-DPAP Blocks after prioritising the same in consultation with the State Government
subject to conformity of the proposals with the Guidelines, performance of the State in
the ongoing projects as well as availability of funds under the programme.