Question : WATERSHED PROGRAMME



(a) whether any study has been conducted to know the utility of water shed management programme; and

(b) if so, the areas and the extent of coverage of this programme in Tamil Nadu?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT


(SHRI A. RAJA )

(a) & (b). No such specific study has been conducted to know the utility of watershed management programme. However, the programme is quite useful. The Department of Land Resources is implementing an Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) on the Guidelines for Watershed Development w.e.f. 1.4.95. Under this scheme, 17 projects at a total cost of Rs. 4250.69 lakhs for treatment of 88,573 ha. of wastelands have been sanctioned since 1993-94 to 1999-2000. Out of these, six projects at a total cost of Rs. 1556.89 lakhs covering an area of 21,138 hectares were sanctioned under old guidelines in 1993-94 and 1994-95 and the remaining projects have been sanctioned after 1.4.95.