Desert Development Programme (DDP)

 

Funding Pattern : 75% by Centre and 25% by State

 

The Programme has been launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of

 India during the year 1995-96. 

 

 Objectives

 

       The objectives of Watershed Development Projects are as under :-  

i)    Developing Wastelands/degraded lands, drought prone and desert areas.

ii)   Promoting the overall economic development and improving the socio-economic conditions of the

     resource poor and disadvantaged sections.

iii) Mitigating the adverse affects of extreme climatic conditions such as drought and desertifications of

     crops.

iv) Harvesting every drop of rain water for purposes of Irrigation, Plantations, Fisheries, Pasture

    Development etc.

v)  Resorting ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources i.e. land,

    water, vegetative cover.

vi) Encouraging village community towards sustained community action for the operation and

     maintenance of assets created and further development of the potential of the natural resources in the

     Watershed.

 

Districts covered under the Programme

 

            The programme is being implemented in 45 Blocks of the districts of Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Rewari, Jhajjar  and Mahendergarh. 

 

Process of Implementation 

 

            At the district level, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) is the Nodal Authority for implementation of the programme.  It shall approve the selection of Watershed, the appointment of Project Implementation Agency (PIA), the Action Plan/Treatment Plan of the Projects.

 

            The Project Implementation Agencies are providing necessary technical guidance to the Gram Panchayats/Watershed Committees at the field level for preparation of development plan for the Watershed, to undertake community organization, training for the village community, supervision of development activities, overall review of the project. 

 

            The Project Implementation Agencies which can be a line department, carry out its duties through a multidisciplinary team.  The Gram Panchayats/Watershed Committees are executing the works under the guidance and control of the Gram  Sabha. Self Help Groups in the Watershed areas are also constituted from amongst landless poor, agricultural labourers, women, scheduled castes.

 

Financial Outlay and Project Area

 

             Watershed area may be about 500 Hects. of land.  Under the guidelines of the Ministry of Rural Development, a sum of Rs.30.00 lacs (@ Rs.6000/- per Hect.) is being provided by the Government for development of each Watershed during a period of 5 years.  The area of Watershed can be devided into sub-watershed areas. 

 

Activities taken up

 

            The activities being taken up in the districts are need based keeping in view the conditions of the area to be covered.  Generally, the following works are being undertaken by the Watershed Committees :

 

            Water Conservation Works, Stock Ponds, Water Channels, Gully Plugging, Percolation Embankment, Field Bunding, Afforestation, Check Dams, Pasture Development, Land levelling, Piped Water Supply for irrigation etc.

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