MAJOR PROGRAMMES OF THE DEPARTMENT
Protection wall - All set and ready to defend against the onslaught of soil erosion
|
RIDF, NABARD LOANS : - The Soil and Water Conservation scheme under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) from National Bank Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was sanctioned and implemented during 2000-01. 12 Projects were taken up in 6 Districts at the total Projects cost of Rs.490.02 lakhs. The project was completed during 2002-03 in which 3450 Hectares were treated with Soil and Water Conservation measures. 87 nos. families were benefited reaching in 63 nos. villages. During 2004-05, 11 new projects under RIDF IX were sanctioned at the total project cost of Rs.590.08 lakhs. The financial achievement during 2004-05 was Rs. 200.00 lakhs and the anticipated expenditure during 2005-06 is Rs.214.75 lakhs.
|
INTEGRATED WASTELAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS : - Due to the undulating terrain conditions, high rainfall and faulty cultivation, Meghalaya is losing gradually vital natural land resources, that is Soil & Water which leads to land and water degradation problems. It has been reported that the total wastelands is about 43 percent (9691 sq. kms) of the total geographical area of the State (22,429 sq. kms.).
During the year 1999-2000, the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, Government of India sanctioned the Integrated Wasteland Development Projects (IWDP) with the following objectives –
-
Developing wastelands/degraded lands in a watershed basis, keeping in view the capability of the land, site conditions and local needs.
-
Promoting the overall economic development and improving the socio-economic condition of the rural people.
-
Restoring the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing the natural resources, that is, land water and vegetative cover.
From 1999-2000 to 2004-05, 21 nos. projects in all the seven Districts covering 152 nos. micro watersheds have been taken up under the IWDP programme. The total project cost for treating 76,725 hectares has been estimated at Rs.4383.28 lakhs. The expenditure incurred are as follows:
|
Sl No |
Year |
No. of Projects |
No. of Water- shed |
Total area to be treated |
Total Project Cost |
Date of Sanction |
Amount sanctioned by the Govt of India |
Amount sanctioned by the State Govt. |
Amount released for Central Share by the Government of India |
Total |
Amount released for State Share |
Expenditure incurred |
||||
|
Central Share |
State Share |
1st Inslt |
2nd Inslt |
3rd Inslt |
Central Share |
State Share |
||||||||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
| 1 | 1999-2000 | 2 nos | 16 nos | 11011ha | 440.44 | March 2000 | 440.44 | - | - | 65.09 | 82.50 | 47.92 | 195.51 | - | 195.01 | - |
| 2 | 2000-2001 | 5 nos | 55 nos | 23714ha | 1422.84 | Sept 2001 | 1304.28 | 118.56 | 30.58 | 195.65 | 184.79 | - | 380.44 | 30.58 | 313.01 | 24.06 |
| 3 | 2003-2004 | 7 nos | 55 nos | 28000 ha | 1680.00 | Feb 2004 | 1540.00 | 140.00 | 21.00 | 231.00 | - | - | 231.00 | 21.00 | 140.18 | 9.00 |
| 4 | 2004-2005 | 7 nos | 26 nos | 14000 ha | 840.00 ha | March 2005 | 770.00 | 70.00 | - | 115.50 | - | - | 115.50 | - | - | |
| 5 | 2005-2006 | 7 Nos | 25 nos | 12500ha | 750.00 | July 2005 | 687.50 | 62.50 | - | 103.15 | - | - | 103.15 | - | - | - |
| Grand Total | 28 nos | 177 nos | 89225 ha | 5133.28 | 4742.72 | 386.81 | 51.58 | 710.39 | 267.29 | 47.92 | 1025.60 | 51.58 | 648.20 | 33.06 | ||
Achievement in IWDP during 2004-2005
Water harvesting - Storing water for multipurpose uses |
WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN SHIFTING CULTIVATION AREAS : - This is a special Central Assistance Scheme taken up on Watershed basis for treatment of Arable and Non-Arable lands affected by Shifting Cultivation and to provide alternative farming method to the farmers who are practicing destructive farming methods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operations, Government of India has launched a central scheme known as the Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA) during the 8th Plan period in 1994-95. In this period, 12 projects at the total cost of Rs.600.00 lakhs has been taken up and completed during the year 1999-2000, 12,900 Hectares area Shifting/Jhum Cultivation areas was treated benefiting 3,200 nos. families. |
During the 9th Plan, 38 (thirty eight) new watershed projects were approved by the Government of India at the total cost of Rs.2062.00 lakhs. The cumulative expenditure upto the year 2004-05 is Rs.1412.00 lakhs. The total area treated is 18,500 hectares and the families benefited from the Scheme is 4,900 nos.
The Census report conducted by the Director of Census operations during the year 1981 indicated that about 76,000 hectares area in the State has been cultivated annually for Shifting/Jhum cultivation purposes. The total families dependent in Shifting /Jhum Cultivation has been estimated at 51,700 nos.
During the year 2001, the Task Force of Government of Meghalaya conducted a study on the extent of Jhumming in the State and five years are as follows –
- The annual area under Jhumming is 4070 hectares.
- The families development on Jhum cultivation is 46,600 nos.
Hence, there is a drastic reduction on the areas affected by Jhumming and there is a decline on the families dependent on Jhumming
Achievements under WDPSCA for the year 2004-2005
In addition to the above schemes, other schemes, which are important contribution towards achieving successful implementation and smooth functioning of those above as well as the Department as a whole, are carried out. These are Direction and Administration, Soil Survey and Testing, Extension and Training and Research and Education.
