Watershed
Management- Government Help
A
watershed is defined as any spatial area from which rain or irrigation
water is collected and drained through a common point. It is synonymous
with a drainage basin or catchment area. Each watershed unit, however, is
a well-defined topographically delineated area with a distinct boundary.
These are simple serial steps but they have to be taken in a
well-coordinated interdisciplinary manner by many departments.
Non-governmental organizations also more successful in implementing
watershed programmes.
Watershed
Development Programmes
In
India, watershed development project is taken up under various programmes
launched by the Government of India. The Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP)
and Desert Development Programme (DDP), adopted watershed approach in
1987. The Integrated Watershed Development Board, National Watershed
Programme in Rainfed Areas (NWPRA) under Ministry of Agriculture and
Integrated Wastelands Development Programme in 1996 under Ministry of
Rural Development and Employment. At present, on-going 4 Central schemes
IWDP,DPAP,DDP and NWDPRA have been merged into a new scheme called Bhoomi
Vikas Yojana under a common guideline (Guideline for Watershed
Development, 1995) which envisages bottom-up approach. The main aim is to
manage the land and water resources for sustained production. The
watershed Development Programmes like DDP, Drought-Prone-Area-Programme (DPAP)
and Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) are implemented by
the Zilla Panchayats through Watershed associations. A project
Implementing Agency, which may be a Government Department or NGO.
Both
the Centre and State Governments have been making continuous and constant
efforts to improve the living standards of rainfed farmers through planned
programmes. These programmes were implemented by both Government
organisation (GOs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). The focus is
on giving technical support in watershed projects, mapping of project
areas design and implementation guidelines for Soil and Water conservation
structure like bunding, check dams, gully plugs, desiltation of tanks etc.
The detailed planning and design for all soil and water conservation
measures plan would be to carry out with the consultation of each subject
matter specialist such as engineer, forester, agronomist, social
scientist, etc, in the watershed development team. The Government of India
has fixed the cost of watershed development, which varies from Rs., 3,000
to 5,000/ha, depending on terrain and nature of problems.
For
Effective Planning and Implementation of IWDP (Integrated Watershed
Development Programme) has following strategies: -
Extension
has a crucial
role to play in identification and development of watershed technology for
adoption by the farmers.
Consistent
and effective policies are
needed for the protection, conservation and maintenance of soil and water
resources.
Creation
of awareness on land
degradation and of adoption technologies through mass media and extension
teaching methods.
Considering
the catchment area as the
basic unit for planning programmes and management of resources.
Establishment
of national and regional committees
and also recognition and promotion of the roles and activities of NGOs,
State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and other organisations involved
in IWDP.
Involvement
of the local institutions/organisations
and credit agencies in IWDP
for effective planning and implementation. |