Chouhan urges states to speed up watershed projects

New Delhi: Rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday asked states to accelerate watershed development projects and ensure clear, measurable outcomes at the grassroots level as the government seeks to realise its goal of a drought-free India.

Reviewing the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY), Chouhan said watershed development was not just about creating water bodies but about bringing water to farms, improving land productivity and raising farmers' incomes and livelihoods.

He asked states to assess projects based on land reclamation, water availability, irrigation, cropping intensity, productivity and improvements in farmers' livelihoods, rather than expenditure alone.


Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, 1,220 projects covering 5.293 million hectares have been sanctioned at a total cost of ₹12,404 crore. Of the Centre's ₹8,134 crore share, ₹6,955.75 crore (85%) has been released, the rural development ministry said in a statement.