Lok Sabha Question No. 2010 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Implementation of IWMP in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF LAND RESOURCES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2010 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## Implementation of IWMP in Andhra Pradesh

## 2010. Dr. Byreddy Shabari:

Will the Minister of Rural Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the implementation of the Integrated Watershed Management  Programme  (IWMP)  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  particularly  in  districts  of Nandyal constituency, district-wise;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of watersheds developed under IWMP in the State, along with their current status, including infrastructure improvements, soil conservation measures and water resource management initiatives;
- (c) whether  advanced  technologies  such  as  remote  sensing,  GIS  mapping  and  water modeling  are  being  used  to  enhance  IWMP  effectiveness  in  developed  areas  in  the State and if so, the specific projects where these have been implemented;
- (d) the details of  measures taken to integrate urban areas within the watershed management framework, particularly regarding stormwater management, flood control and green infrastructure development; and
- (e) the  steps  being  taken  to  ensure  community  participation,  sustainable  water  use  and climate  change  adaptation  in  the  long-term  management  of  watershed  projects  in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (Dr. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)

(a) & (b) Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development was implementing Integrated  Watershed  Management  Programme  (IWMP)  for  development  of  rainfed  and degraded  areas  since  2009-10.  Subsequently  IWMP  was  amalgamated  as  a  Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana 1.0 (WDC-PMKSY 1.0) in 2015-16. Under this, in Andhra Pradesh, a total of 373 projects including 24 projects in the districts of Nandyal Parliamentary Constituency were funded by Department of Land Resources.

The continuation of the scheme as WDC-PMKSY 2.0 has been approved by Government on 15 th December,  2021.  Under  WDC-PMKSY2.0,  Department  has  sanctioned  59  projects, including 3 projects in Nandyal Parliamentary Constituency, to Andhra Pradesh covering an area of 2.44 lakh hectare.  The project period of WDC-PMKSY 2.0 projects is upto March, 2026. All sanctioned WDC-PMKSY2.0 projects are at various stages of implementation.

As per information received from State Government of Andhra Pradesh, three Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Documentation (MEL&D) agencies were appointed for third party evaluation and assigned evaluation work of WDC-PMKSY 1.0 (erstwhile IWMP) projects. Further, evaluation of all  Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) including WDC-PMKSY1.0 has been carried out by NITI Aayog through M/s KPMG Advisory Services Private Limited.

Under WDC-PMKSY 1.0, as per information received from the Andhra Pradesh, since 201415 to 2021-22, about 1.96 lakh water harvesting structures have been created / rejuvenated. An additional area of about 3.06 lakh ha has  been  brought  under protective irrigation. The number of farmers benefited is about 2.86 lakh during the said period.

(c) Remote  Sensing  and  GIS  technology  was  utilized  in  preparing  the  Detailed  Project Reports  (DPR)  of  59  projects  under  the  WDC-PMKSY  2.0  sanctioned  in  2021.  The boundaries  of  all  project  areas  were  mapped  using  Remote  Sensing  and  GIS  tools,  and corresponding shape files were created. Furthermore, all agricultural implements distributed and  Natural  Resource  Management  (NRM)  works  executed  under  WDC-PMKSY  2.0  are being  geo-tagged  in  the  Bhuvan  Portal  of  National  Remote  Sensing  Center  (NRSC), Hyderabad.  Additionally,  the  projects  executed  under  the  WDC-PMKSY  1.0  (erstwhile IWMP)  were  evaluated  by  the  Monitoring,  Evaluation,  Learning,  and  Documentation (MEL&D) agencies using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

(d) As per information received from State Government of Andhra Pradesh, priority is being given  to  dry  land  and  rain-fed  areas  of  rural  regions  in  the  identification  of  watershed projects. Until now, State has not received any watershed project proposal from urban areas.

(e) To ensure community participation, sustainable water use, and climate change adaptation in the long-term management of watershed projects in Andhra Pradesh, the State Level Nodal Agency  (SLNA)  through  the  Institution  &  Capacity  Building  (I&CB)  component  has organized Kalajathas, rallies, distributed brochures, and  conducted  various awareness programs on watershed activities to mobilize community participation among rural residents in  the  project  area.  Public  awareness  campaigns  were  carried  out  in  the  watershed  project areas  through  Watershed  Committees.  Agricultural  University  Scientists  provided  cropspecific and area-specific training to farmers within the project area. At the project's initial stage, SLNA has prepared Micro Watershed-wise Participatory Net Planning (PNP) with the involvement  of  Watershed  Committee  members,  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs),  progressive farmers,  and  Farmer  Producer  Organizations  (FPOs).  According  to  the  PNP,  the  Soil  and Water Conservation (SMC) and Water Harvesting Structures (WHS) works were executed in the watershed project area.

Further, to promote awareness and encourage people's participation in watershed development activities under the WDC-PMKSY 2.0 scheme, a nationwide Watershed Yatra campaign including Andhra Pradesh has been launched by Hon'ble MoRD on 5 th February, 2025 under 'Community Driven Approach (Jan Bhagidari)'.

These  efforts  are  expected  to  yield  long-term  benefits  in  soil  and  water  conservation, sustainable  water  usage,  reduced  fallow  land,  increased  agricultural  land,  expanded  water bodies, elevated groundwater levels, and enhanced double cropping or year-round cropping area etc.

*****