(a) the details of the ongoing schemes for conservation of land in Bihar;
(b) the funds provided to Bihar for land conservation during the last three years and the
current year; and
(c) the success achieved by the Government in this regard during the said period?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a) to (c): The Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture is implementing two Centrally
Sponsored Progammes of Watershed Development; namely
(i) National Watershed Development
Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) and
(ii) Soil Conservation in the Catchments of River
Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR) in the country, including Bihar. Under
these programmes, all types of lands viz. agricultural land, forest land and wastelands are
treated with suitable soil & water conservation measures on watershed approach basis.
Under NWDPRA, during the last three years (2005-06 to 2007-08) an area of 30413 ha.
has been developed in Bihar with an expenditure of Rs.1370.50 lakh. For the current year (2008-09), an amount of Rs.460.00 lakh has been allocated for development of 7667 ha. area.
Under RVP & FPR, an area of 375 ha. has been treated in the watershed of ongoing
catchments in Bihar with an expenditure of Rs.27.40 lakh in the last three years and
Rs.40.00 lakh has been allocated for treatment of 910 ha. area during the current year.