Wasteland reduced, says govt

There has been a reduction in wasteland in the country and 471 projects were completed under integrated wasteland development programme in the last three years, the government said today.
Rural Development Minister Birender Singh informed Lok Sabha that nearly Rs 290 crore was released under Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) during the last three years.
In 2008-09, the IWDP along with Desert Development Programme and Drought Prone Areas Programme were integrated into Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
"During the last three years, Rs 289.37 crore was released under IWDP and Rs 491.72 crore was utilised which includes unspent balance of previous years, state share and miscellaneous receipt.

"Further, Rs 57.78 crore remains unutilised as on October 31, 2014. During the last three years, 471 projects covering an area of 20.79 lakh hectares have been completed under IWDP," Singh said during Question Hour.
Since April 2007, no new IWDP project was sanctioned while funds were released till March this year for completion of ongoing projects sanctioned up to 2006-07.