Times Agricultural Journal

IETF
Watershed management

Greater corporate and NGO participation urged in watershed management

The one common thought that emerged at the conclusion of the ‘Workshop on Corporate sector role in Watershed Management’, was that the corporate sector and NGOs have to play a more critical role in contributing to the success of watershed management in India. The seminar was held on February 6 at Delhi and was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries as part of the 15th International Engineering and Technology Fair (IETF).

Water, though a scarce resource with competing needs like irrigation, hydroelectricity, industrial and domestic use and sewerage, has always been treated with the disdain that is accorded to any seemingly abundant resource. As a result, in India today there has been a skewed allocation of this scarce resource. Thus, while there is an abundance of water in some areas, there is a veritable drought in other places.

The problem is compounded by the fact that in India about 20 per cent of the total area consists of degradable area. According to UV Krishnam Raju, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, massive investment to the tune of Rs 30,600 crore is required to develop these lands. And since the government is not in a position to fish out such a huge amount from budgetary sources, it is imperative that the private sector should also be involved in this effort.

In this context, the Minister also placed on record the fact that the government has launched the Investment Promotional Scheme. This scheme enables individuals and corporates, as well as bodies such as trusts and cooperative institutions, to contribute to the process of wasteland development by raising the requisite finances from corporate bodies, financial institutions and banks.

The Minister also added that wasteland development was a part of an integrated plan for the balanced development of backward areas, another facet of which was watershed management. This technique has emerged, as perhaps the most preferred approach, to ensure optimum utilisation of land and water resources to meet the basic needs of people in the area, on a sustainable basis.

While delivering his keynote address on the role of the corporate sector in watershed management, Harnat Jagawat, Director of NM Sadguru Water and Development Foundation, showcased some of the various watershed projects his NGO had implemented in over 550 villages of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He stressed that the participation of corporates and NGOs would enhance skill and efficiency levels, which are so critical to the successful implementation of any programme.

team Netscribes