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Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development has said that state governments should be asked to prepare a perspective plan for treatment of waste-lands/degraded lands. He was reviewing the implementation of Watershed Programmes i.e. Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) being implemented by Deptt. of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. The three programmes are implemented on watershed basis under common guidelines for watershed development. The objectives of these programmes are :development of wastelands, drought proofing and checking desertification based on watershed plan; promoting overall economic development and improving the socio-economic resources of the poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the watershed areas. The implementation of these programmes is through Panchayati Raj Institutions with a view to empower them financially and administratively.
Presently, 972 blocks of 182 districts in 16 states are covered under DPAP and 235 blocks of 40 districts in 7 States are covered under DDP. The blocks which are not covered under the DPAP and DDP are usually taken under IWDP. Projects are sanctioned by the Central Govt. based on the priority of the watershed recommended by the State Governments. Minister desired that the State Government should be asked to prepare a perspective plan for treatment of wastelands/degraded lands over a period of 15 years. The plan should indicate the prioritisation of watershed so that year-wise phasing of the programme could be planned in a systematic manner.
This approach will lead to an integrated planning of the whole area keeping in view the funds available under the different programmes and the future requirements as per perspective plan.
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