Question : DEVELOPMENT OF ROCKY AREAS



(a) whether the Government has constituted/proposes to constitute any Development Board for the development of rocky areas in the Country including in Rajasthan;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI LALCHAND KATARIA)

(a) to (c): The Department of Land Resources has neither constituted nor proposes to constitute any Development Board for the development of rocky areas in the country including in Rajasthan. However, the Department of Land Resources is implementing three area development programmes namely, Desert Development Programme (DDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) on watershed basis. These three programmes have been integrated and consolidated into a single programme namely Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) with effect from 26.02.2009. The major activities undertaken under IWMP include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture and pasture development etc.