Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota led a high-level review of the state's ongoing watershed development initiatives this week. The meeting focused on the progress of 38 projects funded under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. With a total budget of Rs 371.36 crore, these efforts have already seen 74 percent of funds utilized, and four projects are now complete. Most other initiatives have surpassed 80 percent financial progress.
These projects have delivered substantial improvements to the state's natural resources. Authorities reported that more than 14,750 hectares have undergone soil and moisture conservation, while over 50,257 hectares of rainfed land have been developed. Additionally, the construction and renovation of 1,099 water harvesting structures have provided protective irrigation to over 1.7 lakh farmers.
Looking ahead, the steering committee approved an Annual Action Plan for 2026-27 with a budget of over Rs 102 crore. This phase will emphasize climate-resilient agriculture, livelihood generation, and sustainable management. The committee also introduced an incentive framework, the Watershed Janbhagidari initiative, to boost community participation by rewarding high-performing projects.
The administration is currently preparing for the next iteration of the program, WDC-PMKSY 3.0. This includes drafting new project reports and strengthening monitoring systems. Chief Secretary Kota emphasized the need for consistent coordination at the grassroots level to ensure the long-term sustainability of these assets and continued growth in farmer incomes through crop diversification.
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