(a) whether the 33 percent agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has gone waste due to a large scale soil erosion caused by Chambal river:
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the measures being taken by the Government to check such soil erosion; and
(d) the action being taken for the rehabilitation of the villagers displaced as a result thereof?
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI NITISH KUMAR)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.337 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH AUGUST, 2000 IN THE LOK SABHA
(a)&(b): The areas affected by soil erosion caused by Chambal river is generally categorised .as ravine area. According to the estimates of the Working Group on Soil and Water Conservation for IX Five Year Plan, the ravine area caused by Chambal river is 3.04 lakh ha. in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
(c): Government of India, Department of Agriculture is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Enhancing Productivity of Degraded Lands in the Catchments of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone Rivers (RVP & FPR) to control soil erosion in the catchments of Chambal. In addition, State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are also implementing various State Plan schemes to control soil erosion in their respective States.
(d): No instance of displacement of farmers has been reported in these areas.