Rs 150 Crore AAP under Watershed component approved

Chief Secretary B R Sharma

The State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by Chief Secretary, B R Sharma Thursday gave approval to the proposed Annual Action Plan-2016-17 of Rs 150 Cr for implementation of the IWDP projects under Watershed component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

The Committee reviewed the physical and financial achievements registered under the Watershed component in the State.

The Watershed component of PMKSY is meant for effective management of rain water run-off and to carry out soil and moisture conservation activities.

As many as 159 projects have been approved by Government of India under 4 batches from the year 2011-2012 to 2014-15 with project cost of Rs 979.72 Cr, to treat an area of over 6.53 Lakh Hectare under watershed component of PMKSY.

The Committee was informed that till date over 71,000 Hectare has been treated across the State and for the year 2016-17, an area of over One Lakh Hectare has been targeted for treatment. The activities include ridge area and drainage line treatment, rainwater harvesting, in-situ moisture conservation and other allied activities on watershed basis.

The Committee underscored the need to prioritize catchment area treatment to prevent overland flow that causes erosion of fertile top soil. The Committee also stressed that Action Plan for the year 2017-18 should be formulated as early as March 2017.