a) whether small watershed programme is not being utilised presently in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken by the Government for optimum utilisation of the programme; and
(d) the details of achievements or success by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a) & (b): Since 1995-96, the area development programmes on watershed basis were implemented under various schemes such as the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP),the Desert Development Programme (DDP) and the Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP). In 2008-09, these programmes were merged into a single programme called the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) for the development of rainfed / degraded areas. During 2015-16, the IWMP was amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY). Overall, the small watershed programmes have benefitted the farmers.
It may be pointed out that some projects taken up under the area development programmes of DDP, IWDP and DPAP sanctioned during the period 1995-96 to 2006-07, were foreclosed due to the lack of institutional mechanism for implementing the programme in the States and Districts coupled with insufficient community awareness and participation.
(c) : The Common Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects 2008 (Revised Edition 2011) provide for various mechanisms to ensure proper implementation,such as regular monitoring including GIS / web based online monitoring of process and outcomes, social auditing and independent and external monitoring by third party agencies and dedicated institutions with professional support at the State, District and project levels. In addition, the Department of Land Resources supervises the work through periodic review meetings, a Management Information System (MIS), progress reports and third party monitoring.
(d) : A number of impact assessment studies have been conducted through the National Institute of Rural Development(NIRD), The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The major findings of these studies include a rise in the ground water table, increased availability of drinking water, bringing additional areas under irrigation & cultivable wastelands, improved cropping intensity and reduction of soil erosion etc. in the project areas. The information regarding State/ UT- wise achievements has not been collated.The State/ UT- wise details of the projects undertaken under the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY(erstwhile IWMP) are given in the Annexure. These projects are at various stages of implementation.
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