(a) whether the Government is taking steps for converting barren land into fertile land fit for agricultural farming;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the details of funds sanctioned and utilised in this regard during the last three years and the current year; and
(d) the details of progress made in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI LALCHAND KATARIA)
(a) & (b): There is no specific scheme for converting barren land into fertile land fit for agriculture farming. However,
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 1995-96 on watershed basis. The above three programmes have been integrated into a single modified programme called Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) w.e.f. 26.02.2009. The major activities undertaken under IWMP inter alia include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development etc.
(c) & (d): Question does not arise.