WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT

Water is the life line of all the development activities and for survival of plant and animal lives. Nevertheless, about 25% of the villages in India are deprived of potable water. About 75% water sources in rural areas do not meet the WHO standard and only about 28% of the agricultural lands have assured source of irrigation. This situation is not because of scanty rainfall but due to inefficient use of precious precipitation. In recent years India has looked to watershed development as a way to realize its hopes for agricultural development in rain fed, semi-arid areas. By capturing scarce water resources and improving the management of soil and vegetation, watershed development has the potential to create conditions conducive to higher agricultural productivity while conserving natural resources. This case study of the water shed development project at Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), fits squarely into works on development strategies on less favoured lands – areas where agro climatic conditions are difficult or infrastructure and support services have been neglected. The analysis compares conditions in the study villages before and after the project was implemented. Quantitative analysis at the village level examines performance indicators such as changes in access to irrigation water, employment opportunities, soil erosion and conservation on uncultivated lands, drainage lines, social and economic upliftment of the inhabitants.