Question : CONFERENCE ON LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

(a) whether the decision taken in Conference on Land Resource Management held in Delhi in November 2000 have since been implemented by the Government;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) whether the participation of people in bringing about and reform watershed development and anticipation of rural India has been projected in the Annual Plan of 2001-2002;

(d) the share of Centre and States to the programme of Land Resources Management in the country;

(e) whether physical and financial achievements have been made up to date at the Central and State level; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (PROF. RITA VERMA)

(a) & (b) An International Conference on Land Resource Management on Food, Employment & Environmental Security was organized FROM 9TH TO 13TH November, 2000 by the Soil Conservation Society of India (SCSI), registered as a Society under the Societies Act and not by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in the Ministry of Rural Development. The DoLR among others had provided financial assistance to the SCSI for this Conference.

(c) & (d) The DoLR is implementing three major Land Development/Area Development Programmes namely Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) through watershed approach under the Guidelines for Watershed Development. IWDP is a Central Sector Scheme under which 100% financial assistance is provided by the Central Government. The DDP and DPAP are Centrally Sponsored Schemes with a funding pattern of 75:25 between Central and State Governments. The Guidelines for Watershed Development applicable to the three programmes already envisage people`s participation in the formulation and implementation of the watershed development projects under these programmes. The revised Guidelines for Watershed Development lay still greater emphasis on community participation.

(e) & (f) Details of funds released and the new projects sanctioned under the three Programmes during the last three years are given below:

Sl.No.	Name	Funds Released (for ongoing New projects sanctioned	of the	and new projects) (Area in lac hectares)	Scheme	(Rupees in crores)
1998- 1999- 2000- 2001- 1998- 1999- 2000- 2001-	1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002	(upto	(upto	30.6.2001	30.6.2001)
1	DPAP	73.0 94.9 189.78 10.55 4.40 11.3 16.8 Nil

2.	DDP	79.8 84.9 134.99 27.48 2.00 7.50 8.30 Nil

3.	IWDP	62.0 83.0 127.78 13.77 5.18 7.01 11.0 Nil
TOTAL	214.8 263. 452.55 51.80 11.58 25.9 36.1 Nil