MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI)
(a) No Block and District is identified as desert area in Bihar.
(b) The Desert Development Programme (DDP) is being implemented in 235 blocks of 40
districts in 7 States (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &
Kashmir, Karnataka and Rajasthan). Bihar State is, however, not covered under DDP.
The main activities undertaken under DDP are land development including soil and
moisture conservation works, construction of water harvesting structures such as low-
cost farm ponds, check-dams, percolation tanks and ground water recharge measures,
afforestation, horticulture & pasture development works, shelterbelt plantations, sand
dune stabilization etc., renovation and augmentation of water resources, repair,
restoration and upgradation of existing common property assets and structures in the
watershed.
Under DDP, a total number of 15746 projects covering an area of 78.73 lakh
hectare have been sanctioned from 1995-96 to 2006-07. Out of these, 8219 projects
covering an area of 41.10 lakh hectare have been completed.
(c) The Desert Development Programme along with other two area development
programmes of Department of Land Resources, viz. Drought Prone Areas Programme
(DPAP) and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) has now been
merged and consolidated into a single modified programme titled, ?Integrated
Watershed Management Programme? (IWMP) with effect from 26.02.2009. The various
activities undertaken under IWMP are soil & moisture conservation measures, rain water
harvesting measures, afforestation, horticulture and pasture development, livelihood
activities, capacity building & encouraging people?s participation.