MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(Dr. C.P. JOSHI)
(a) The State-wise details of wastelands (waste & barren) is enclosed as Annexure-I. The
figures are based on Wastelands Atlas of India 2005 published by National Remote
Sensing Agency, Hyderabad.
(b) The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development has been
implementing three area development programmes viz. Integrated Wastelands
Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and
Desert Development Programme (DDP) since 1995 on watershed basis. The above three
programmes have been merged into a single programme i.e. Integrated Watershed
Management Programme (IWMP) w.e.f. 26.02.2009.
(c) These programmes are funded jointly by the State Governments and the Central
Government. In respect of IWDP, DPAP, DDP and IWMP schemes, the central share
is 92%, 75%, 75% and 90 %, respectively. The balance is the State share. The release of
central share under these programmes from 1995-96 till 2009-10 is as follows:
IWDP : Rs. 3934.29 crore
DPAP : Rs. 3690.60 crore
DDP : Rs. 2803.35 crore
IWMP : Rs. 562.83 crore
(d) As per the information received from the State Governments, employment generated
during the period is 46.49 crore mandays.
(e) The steps taken to further improve/ expedite the process of development of rainfed
areas including wastelands include the provision of treatment of micro-watersheds on
cluster basis, reduced number of installments, delegation of power of sanction of
projects to the States, dedicated institutions, capacity building of stakeholders,
monitoring & evaluation, specific budget provision for detailed project report
preparation and livelihood component.
