Question : Integrated Watershed Management Programme

(a) the aims and objectives of area development programme;

(b) the details of the major activities carried out under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and the names of the States where the programme is under implementation at present;

(c) the details of the projects implemented under this programme and the extent of success achieved therefrom, State/ UT-wise;

(d) the funds sanctioned/released and expenditure incurred under the programme during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for effective implementation of the programme particularly in the backward and tribal areas of the country for regional balanced development, State/ UT-wise?

MINISTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a): The main aims and objectives of the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) are harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water; prevention of soil run-off; rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table; increasing the productivity of crops; introduction of multi-cropping and diverse agro-based activities; promoting sustainable livelihoods and increasing the household incomes. The IWMP has been amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojana (PMKSY) from 2015-16.

(b) The major activities taken up under thePMKSY (Watershed Development), inter alia include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, livelihoods for assetless persons. Presently, PMKSY (Watershed Development) is implemented in all the States except Goa.

(c) & (d):As per the Common Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects-2008 (Revised Edition-2011), the period for completing PMKSY (Watershed Development)projects is between 4-7 years.These projects are in different stages of implementation. The details of projects sanctioned, funds released and expenditure incurred under the programme during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise are given at Annexure.

(e): The Department has, inter alia, taken a number of steps for the effective implementation of the programme particularly in the backward and tribal areas of the country for regional balanced development. Under PMKSY (Watershed Development), the projects are selected based on criteria such as poverty index, % of SC/ST population, % of Small and Marginal Farmers and actual wages etc. There is also a provision to earmark 10% of the total budget for the North Eastern States. For implementation of the programme, agencies/ institutional structures at the State, District and project levels have been constituted. The Department has, inter alia, taken a number of steps for effective implementation of the programme such as insistence of public participation through the formation of the village Watershed Committee which implements the programme; dedicated implementing structures; third party concurrent monitoring and evaluating agencies; Bhuwan IWMP portal; Drishti mobile app; field visits and regular review meetings etc.

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