Watershed pilot projects given go-ahead in Assam

Pilot projects for watershed management would be launched in Golaghat and Jorhat districts of Assam to tide over water crisis.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi gave Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) the go-ahead when its members met him yesterday and said they could scale up their activities by identifying some more intensive blocks in the state, a government release said here today.
The projects would be launched by SPS, a prominent NGO in the field at Bokakhat and Dergaon in Golaghat and Teok and Mariani in Jorhat, the release said.
Gogoi told the team that his government has given thrust on watershed management programmes by taking steps on judicious use of water resources.

Besides, the government was also giving importance to green economy with focus on bamboo, cane, rubber, medicinal plants and fruits cultivation to minimise pollution, keeping the environment cool and tackling erosion through water-resistant plants, it added.
The activists suggested that the best way for reducing erosion would be by treating the catchment areas and to go for a major plantation drive.
Mihir Shah, member of Planning Commission and former SPS secretary told Gogoi that the watershed programmes also include repair and maintenance of hand-pumps for drinking water, sustainable agriculture, forestry, land rights, low-cost housing, women's empowerment, health care, sanitation and renewable energy.

SPS, headquartered at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, is executing a large number of projects in remote, tribal dry lands of the country and its projects in Assam had been drawn up after several visits by its members to upper Assam to study the impact of water and livelihood.