JK Govt to begin IWMP project in rain-fed areas

With an aim to meet the water shortage in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Government will begin Integrated Watershed Management Programme project in all the rain-fed areas in the phased manner.
"The Government was looking forward to start Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) project in all the rain fed areas of the state in a phased manner", Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar said today.
The minister announced at the launch of IWMP in block Dansal here which has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 7.34 crore.
The areas with least drinking water, irrigation potential besides high percentage of BPL and SC/ST population and degraded areas have been taken in the first instance, Sagar said.

"The Rs 2300 crore IWMP project for the state is to be implemented over a period of three years and targets treatment of all the rain fed areas in a phased manner," he informed.
"This would help in creating dependable infrastructure to make various farming in the area a profitable activity," he said.
"Proper rainwater harvesting, the major component of the project, was vital to arrest the groundwater decline, conserve surface water run-off during monsoon, and reduce soil erosion and to inculcate the culture of water conservation," Sagar added.