New Delhi:
In a significant move to enhance rural development and environmental sustainability, the Rural Development Ministry announced on Monday the approval of 56 new Watershed Development Projects. These initiatives, spread across ten states, will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 700 crores.
The projects, part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) Watershed Development Component 2.0, will be undertaken in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. Each project is designed to cover an area of approximately 5,000 hectares, although this may be less in hill states due to geographical constraints.
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) is spearheading this initiative, which aims to develop degraded and rain-fed areas through integrated watershed development. The activities included in these projects range from ridge area treatment and drainage line treatment to soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, and providing livelihood opportunities for asset-less individuals.
According to the ministry, the previous phase of WDC-PMKSY (1.0) has shown promising results, including a significant improvement in groundwater tables, increased surface water availability, enhanced crop productivity, and higher farmers’ incomes. The new projects are expected to build on these successes, ensuring sustainable development and better climate resilience for farmers.
In the previous financial year (2021-22), 1,150 projects covering about 50 lakh hectares were sanctioned under WDC-PMKSY 2.0 at a cost of Rs 12,303 crores. The current approval underscores the government’s commitment to addressing land degradation and supporting rural livelihoods.
