Question : INTEGRATED WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN RURAL AREAS

(a) State-wise allocation of fund for setting up watersheds in rural areas in the last three Budgets and its utilisation till date;

(b) Its break up for each State;

(c) Whether most of funds were not utilised by the States;

(d) If so, the reasons therefore, State-wise ;

(e) The area in hectares treated under the IWDP Scheme for last three years in various States of the country;

(f) Whether SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) of IWDP Scheme has been done;

(g) If so, the details thereof ;

(h) Whether repairs of structures created under IWDP Scheme are not repaired by the local bodies; and

(i) If so, the reasons therefore and concrete steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI A. NARENDRA)

(a) to (e) The Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing three Area Development Programmes namely the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), the Desert Development Programme (DDP) and the Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) on watershed basis. DPAP and DDP are implemented in pre-identified blocks in the country and IWDP in the remaining area. Area taken up for treatment and the funds released year-wise in the projects under these programmes to the various States during the last three years are given in Annexure I, II & III. As these programmes are demand driven, there is no State-wise allocation of funds. On receipt of proposals from the States, funds are released if all required documents are received and criteria met.

(f) No, Sir .

(g) Does not arise .

(h) There is adequate provision in the guidelines for creation of a Watershed Development Fund (WDF) during the term of the project which is to be utilised for maintenance of assets created on common lands after the completion of the project. WDF is created with 10% of the cost of works executed on individual lands as contribution from the User Groups (5% from SC/ST/persons identified below poverty line), and 5% of the development cost incurred on community lands in form of contributions from all beneficiaries and user charges etc.

(i) Does not arise.