(a) whether the Government has introduced Integrated Watershed Management Programme in Shifting Cultivation Areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the projects completed and projects under construction during the last three years. State/UT-wise including Karnataka; and
(c) whether the Government has conducted any review of the implementation of the scheme, if so, the details thereof?
(a) & (b) The Department of Land Resources has been implementing Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) since 2009-10 for the development of rainfed and degraded areas including shifting cultivation areas in the country. However, IWMP is not implemented for the development of only Shifting Cultivation Areas of the country. The project areas under IWMP are selected based on the criteria like extent of degraded land, area under rain-fed agriculture, moisture index / DPAP/ DDP block, Poverty index (% of poor to population), % of SC/ ST population, lower wage rate, % of small and marginal farmers, ground water status, availability of drinking water, productivity potential of the land, contiguity to another watershed that has already been developed/ treated and cluster approach.
The project period of the IWMP projects is 4 to 7 years. The major activities undertaken under IWMP since its inception in 2009-10 inter alia include preparation of Detailed Project Reports, institution and capacity building, entry point activities, ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, livelihood activities for the asset-less persons and production system & micro enterprises for small and marginal farmers. These activities taken up under IWMP are distributed over three phases. The Preparatory Phase (1 to 2 years) involves preparation of DPR, Entry Point Activities and Institution & Capacity Building. The Watershed Works Phase (2 to 3 years) involves the Watershed Development Works, Livelihood Activities for the asset-less persons and Production Systems & Micro- Enterprises. The Consolidation and Withdrawal Phase (1 to 2 years) involves consolidation and completion of various works. Therefore, the projects sanctioned under IWMP are at various stages of implementation.
Under IWMP, a total of 8214 projects covering an area of 39.069 m. ha have been sanctioned and Central Share of Rs.11032.20 crore have been released to the States for implementation of these projects (as on 31.03.2015). Out of the total sanctioned projects, 3482, projects are in preparatory phase, 4613 projects are in work phase of implementation and 119 projects are in consolidation phase. The State-wise details of these projects including Karnataka are given at Annexure. From the current financial year (2015-16), the IWMP has been amalgamated as a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
(c) The Department of Land Resources places special emphasis on Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects. A comprehensive system of Monitoring and Evaluation has been evolved. The salient features are as under:
(i) At the Central level, a Steering Committee has been constituted for administering IWMP with members from various line departments of the Central Government, Planning Commission, National Rainfed Area Authority, technical experts from different scientific institutions, voluntary organizations, and State Governments.
(ii) At the State level, the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA), a dedicated institution with professional support, for implementation of IWMP has been set up in 29 States. The SLNA constantly monitors and evaluates the programme and is responsible for the implementation of the programme in the respective States.
(iii) The Department monitors the progress of works under watershed projects through the instruments of Quarterly Review Meetings, Management Information System (MIS), progress reports, utilization certificates, Audited Statement of Accounts, etc.
(iv) Regional Review Meetings with State Government officers are held under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (LR) to review the performance of various programmes being implemented by the States in a selected State. The review includes a field visit where the other invited States also participate.
(v) Officers, dealing with the implementation of the programmes at State Headquarters & district, visit project areas to ensure that the programmes are being implemented satisfactorily.
(vi) A system of Third party concurrent M&E has been put in place in the Department as well as the States.
(vii) For evaluation of IWMP projects by the independent evaluating agencies, specific financial provision of 1% of project fund has been provided in the Guidelines. There is provision of evaluation of projects by the independent evaluating agencies after completion of every phase of the project i.e. Preparatory Phase, Works Phase and Consolidation & Withdrawal Phase. Only after the submission of a satisfactory evaluation report of the Preparatory Phase alongwith action taken report on recommendations of the evaluating agency, DoLR provides central assistance for the implementation of next phase of projects i.e. Works Phase.
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