Neeranchal
World Bank
Assisted Project "Neeranchal" for the Watershed Component (Erstwhile Integrated
Watershed Management Programme) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana
The
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi, has given its approval to:
(i)
implement the World Bank assisted National Watershed Management Project
"Neeranchal" with a total outlay of $357 million (Rs 2142.30 crore at Rs. 60 =
$1)
(ii)
implement the project at the National level as well as in the nine States
of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.
The
total cost of the project is Rs. 2142.30 crore of which the Government's share
is Rs. 1071.15 crore (50 percent) and rest is the loan component from the World
Bank.
For
achieving the major objectives of the Watershed Component of the Pradhan Mantri
Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) and for ensuring access to irrigation to every
farm (Har Khet Ko Pani) and efficient use of water (Per Drop More Crop),
Neeranchal is primarily designed to address the following concerns:
i. bring
about institutional changes in watershed and rainfed agricultural management
practices in India,
ii. build
systems that ensure watershed programmes and rainfed irrigation management
practices are better focussed, and more coordinated, and have quantifiable
results,
iii. devise
strategies for the sustainability of improved watershed. management
practices in programme areas, even after the withdrawal of project support,
iv. through
the watershed plus approach, support improved equity, livelihoods,
and incomes through forward linkages, on a platform of inclusiveness and local
participation.
Neeranchal
will translate into better implementation outcomes of PMKSY. The programme will
lead to reducing surface runoff of rainwater, increasing recharge of ground
water and better availability of water in rainfed areas resulting in incremental
rainfed agriculture productivity, enhanced milk yield and increased cropping
intensity through better convergence related programmes in project
areas.
Neeranchal
is designed to further strengthen and provide technical assistance to the
Watershed Component of PMKSY, in particular and all components of PMKSY, in
general, to enhance its delivery capacity. Neeranchal will support the
Watershed component of PMKSY (erstwhile IWMP) which was implemented by the
Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in 28 States.
Watershed
development projects are area development programme and all people living in
the project area will be benefitted.
Background:
The
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) was implemented since 2009-10
by the DoLR, for supporting watershed development in 28 States. From 2015-16
onwards, the IWMP will be implemented as the Watershed Component of
PMKSY.
The
potential of the watershed approach followed by the erstwhile IWMP to support
both conservation and production outcomes including the availability of water in
rainfed areas, catering to the needs of small and marginal farmers as well as
the asset-less, including women, has been successfully demonstrated at scale
across various States of India. However, despite these successes, a number of
challenges remain for watershed development to achieve better outcomes,
including enhanced participation of communities, building stronger capacities
and systems to plan, implement, monitor and post-project sustainability of local
institutions and assets. These challenges, if not resolved, can result in
implementation delays, slow disbursements and benefits.
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