Lok Sabha Question No. 276 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-04
Subject: Water Conservation Programmes
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-276 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2016

## Water Conservation Programmes

- *276. SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has formulated schemes for water conservation and water harvesting in the villages and if so, the details in this regard particularly of the Shirdi and other backward regions of the State of Maharashtra; and (b)  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  develop  new  technique  for  water  harvesting  for
- agriculture purpose, and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) and (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No 276 due for reply on 04.08.2016

- (a) Under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (WDC-PMKSY)  and the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds are released to the States which inter alia are used for water conservation and water harvesting works. The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development had been implementing an area development programme i.e. Integrated Watershed Management  Programme  (IWMP)  w.e.f.  26.02.2009  for  development  of  rainfed  /  degraded areas in all the States of the country (except Goa)  including Maharashtra. The objectives of the IMWP programme are conservation of water, improving agriculture productivity and livelihood creation.  The  major  activities  taken  up  under  the  programme inter  alia include  ridge  area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, livelihoods for assetless persons. From the year 2015-16, the IWMP programme has been amalgamated as the WDC-PMKSY. As on 30.06.2016, a total of 8214 projects under WDC-PMKSY have been sanctioned in the country, covering an area of 39.07 million ha and an amount of Rs. 12821.66 Cr. has been released as central  assistance  to  various  States  including  Maharashtra.  In  the  State  of  Maharashtra,  1186 projects  covering  an  area  of  5.128  million  ha  with  a  total  cost  of  6517.49  Cr  have  been sanctioned  under  WDC-PMKSY  and  an  amount  of  Rs.  1784.46  Cr.  has  been  released  upto 30.06.2016.  As  per  the  information  received  from  Maharashtra  State,  6148  water  harvesting structures  have  been  created/  renovated  in  the  year  2014-15  and  2015-16  under  the  WDCPMKSY. Further 16913 works pertaining to water harvesting have been completed/ are under implementation  under  the  Jalyukt  Shivar  Abhiyan  Programme  of  the  State  Government.  In Ahmednagar  district  of  the  State,  of  which  Shirdi  Parliamentary  Constituency  is  a  part,  37 projects covering an area of 157384 hectares with  a total cost of Rs. 18885.4  lakh have been sanctioned under the programme.

Further, in the current financial year 2016-17, 91337 water conservation works are completed/ ongoing under MGNREGS in the State of Maharashtra out of which 6627 works are completed/ ongoing in the district of Ahmednagar.

- (b) Under the Technology Development, Extension and Training scheme (TDET)  of the Department  of  Land  Resources  there  is  a  provision  for  taking  up  projects  for  disseminating research  findings  about  strong  technology  inputs  and  application  of  such  technologies  for promoting  watershed development  including development  of new  techniques for water harvesting  for  agricultural  purposes.  The  Department  has  also  signed  a    technical  assistance project  with  the    World  Bank,  named  'Neeranchal'  National  Watershed  Project  to  support various components of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in general and its  Watershed  Development  Component  (WDC)  in  particular,  with  the  objective  to  improve incremental conservation outcomes and agricultural yields in a sustainable manner for farming communities.  The  Project  envisages  its    implementation  from  2016-17  to  2021-22  by  the Department  of  Land  Resources  in  partnership  with  9  States  including  Maharashtra.  Under Neeranchal, there is a provision for  adoption of innovations around  Decision Support System (DSS) for hydrology and watershed management including new techniques for water harvesting for agricultural purposes.

Further, as per the information received from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, water  harvesting,  water  conservation  and  management  activities  including  efficient  on-farm conveyance and application systems like micro irrigation are promoted under Per Drop More Crop component of the PMKSY to supplement activities taken up under watershed projects and MGNREGA for comprehensive/integrated development of the targeted areas.