Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Integrated watershed management projects for the backward districts

September 8, 2011 at 4:23 pm sanjibkarmee 1 comment

Following report is from the Pioneer:

In yet another step towards increasing the productivity of the poor, the Government of Odisha has decided to implement Integrated Watershed Management Projects in the backward districts, along with the 14 IAP (Integrated Action Plan) districts.

The action plan for this has been prepared in a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary BK Patnaik recently. It has been decided that the blocks for the programmes will be selected as per Government of India guidelines.

The main criteria for choosing of the blocks will be less than 35 per cent irrigation facility, higher poverty index, higher percentage of SC and ST population and higher percentage of small and marginal farmers etc.

The proposed districts are Balangir, Deogarah, Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh.

Six backward and drought-prone districts selected as per the guidelines are Boudh, Bargarh, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Khurda.  There will be about 1,745 micro watersheds in all theses districts covering an area of 1, 002, 724 hectares of land.

The Chief Secretary has advised the department to adopt cluster approach in organisation and management of micro-watersheds. About 10 to 15 watersheds will be organised in to one cluster and one Project Implementing Agency (PIA) will be kept in charge of the

cluster.

Each cluster will have two interrelated teams such as Watershed Management Team (WMT) and Livelihood Support Team (LST) for providing guidance and support to the farmers. Each micro-watershed will have Watershed Committee and Community Link Workers (CLW).

The objectives of the project will be grounded through grass root institutions like Common Interest Group (CIG), Users Group (UG) and Self Help Groups (SHG). Patnaik has directed the department to assess requirement for full phased development in the watershed areas.

As per the guide lines of the project, `12, 000 will be utilised for development of one hectare of land.  Additional funds can be supplemented by way of convergence from MGNREGS and other livelihood support schemes, said Patnaik. The department has also been directed to ensure soil amendment by way of acid-soil treatment in watershed areas.

Patnaik has also advised the department to initiate the process for setting up a dedicated Institute for Watershed Management Training at Bhubaneswar with its field linkages for demonstration and practical exposure.

Entry filed under: Agriculture, Agriculture and Irrigation, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Region watch, Sambalpur, Sundergarh.