Question : SOIL EROSION



(a) whether the soil erosion problem has further aggravated in the country;

(b) if so, the extent of soil erosion in the country, State- wise; and

(c) the efforts made by the Government to check the same?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)

(a) In the absence of time sequence data on status of soil erosion, no definite conclusion can be drawn about the aggravation of problem of soil erosion in the country.

(b) As per the estimates of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation an area of about 125 million ha. is estimated to be affected by soil erosion (both by water and wind) in the country. The state-wise area affected by soil erosion is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(c) To prevent soil erosion the Central Government is implementing various land based programmes in the Ministries of Agriculture, Rural Development, Environment & Forests etc.