Question : WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

(a) the details of funds allocated/released to Andhra Pradesh during the current financial year for Watershed Development Programme;

(b) whether the funds released have been utilised by Andhra Pradesh Government;

(c) whether any irregularities in the allotment of funds in the biased manner or location of watershed development projects have come to the notice of Government;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken to avoid these irregularities etc.?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ANNASAHEB M.K. PATIL):

(a) The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing three major Watershed Development Programmes namely the Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), the Drought Prone, Areas Programme (DPAP) and the Desert Development Programme (DDP) in Andhra Pradesh on watershed basis. In addition, funds are also provided for completion of watershed projects taken up under the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) prior to 1.4.99. The details of funds released by the DoLR to the above Watershed Programmes in the current financial year (2002-03) are given below:




SI.No.	Programme	Funds released	(Rs.in lakhs)

1.	IWDP+EAS	1154.52

2.	DPAP	2230.75

3.	DDP	641.25

(b) In a watershed project, the first instalment of Central funds is released at the time of sanction. Each of the subsequent instalment is released only after ensuring that the unutilised balance with the DRDA is not more than 50%. of the previous instalment. This release procedure ensures utilisation of the funds released for the projects.

(c) to (e) Release of funds under the Watershed Development Programmes is made by the Central Government directly to the districts concerned keeping in view the progress of implementation etc.; Hence irregularities cannot be attributed to the release of funds for the projects under these Programmes. As far as location of the watershed projects is concerned, this is- required to be done at the district level as per the criteria prescribed in the Guidelines for Watershed Development. No irregularities have come to the notice of the Government in this regard.

Question : WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Answer given by the minister

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