Govt allocates Rs 1,471 crore for watershed development

Government has made tentative allocation of about Rs 1,471 crore for development of watershed under the flagship irrigation scheme PMKSY, with maximum thrust being given to drought prone states.
The Department of Land resources has allocated maximum Rs 199 crore to Rajasthan, followed by Rs 187 crore for Maharashtra and Rs 152 crore to Karanataka, a source said.
The funds have been allocated from watershed development component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the source added.
The allocations have been made on the basis of the performance of the states in implementing the Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP).
As per the watershed management plan, the rainwater is stored through various storage ways like check dams and others. This stored water is runoff to near by fields, extends the period of water availability. This eventually lowers the risk in agriculture in case of less rainfall or drought.

The watersheds are mostly used in rainfed areas of central and western India.
The success of the watershed mode of storing water largely depends on people's participation, facilitated through collaboration between local communities, civil society organisations and government agencies.