102 panchayats to be covered in second phase of WDP

As many as 102 additional gram panchayats of Himachal Pradesh will be covered in the second phase of Watershed Development Project (WDP) entailing an expenditure of Rs 235.75 crore.
The first phase of the project that started in October, 2005 was completed on March 31, 2013 while the second phase would be implemented till March, 2016, an official spokesman here said.
602 gram panchayats were covered during the first phase by spending Rs 365 crore and with the inclusion of 102 more panchayats, about 13 lakh people of 704 panchayats would be benefited.
He said under the project, emphasis had been laid on revival and regeneration of the natural resources with a view to increasing the production capacity which would help in strengthening rural economy.

Special attention was being given to upliftment of the people of tribal areas and 4,530 flock management training camps had been organised under tribal work plan in the state, he added.