Question : PROGRAMME TO RECLAIM SALINE LAND



(a) whether due to salinity, some area of land in the country is not arable;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government have formulated any time-bound programme to reclaim such land; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)


(a)&(b): About 7.6 m.ha. of land is affected by salinity in the country. The State-wise salt-affected soils in the country is annexed.

(c)&(d): A Joint Central Team had visited the States of West Bengal, Gujarat & Andhra Pradesh. Based on the recommendations, a pilot project for the States of West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa has been formulated & forwarded to Planning Commission for their consideration for the treatment of salt affected soils.

ANNEXURE

Statement showing the State-wise status of the Salt affected soils in the country

S.No.	State/UT	Area (`000 ha.)
1. Andhra Pradesh 240

2. Bihar 4

3. Gujarat 1042

4. Haryana 526

5. Punjab 718 6. Karnataka 404

7 Kerala 117

8. Madhya Pradesh 242

9. Maharashtra 534 10. Orissa 404 11. Rajasthan 1000 12. Tamil Nadu 104 13. Uttar Pradesh 1295 14. West Bengal 986
Total 7616