Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the progress of the Watershed Development Component (WDC-PMKSY) of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, emphasizing the need for speedy implementation and clear measurable outcomes at the grassroot level. The Minister stressed that watershed development serves as a critical tool toward achieving the goal of 'Drought-Free India for Developed India', with the real objective being to bring water to fields, increase land productivity, and improve farmer income and livelihood through optimal water utilization.
Under the WDC-PMKSY 2.0 scheme, 1,220 projects covering an area of 52.93 lakh hectares have been sanctioned with a total cost of ₹12,404 crore. The central share amounts to ₹8,134 crore, of which ₹6,955.75 crore (85%) has been released to date. The program has demonstrated significant success in transforming agricultural practices, with approximately 1.40 lakh hectares that previously supported barely one crop now yielding two crops, and in many areas three crops, alongside expanded horticulture, vegetable production, and high-value crops that have brought prosperity to farmers.
The infrastructure achievements include construction and rejuvenation of 1.24 lakh water harvesting structures comprising check dams, nullahs, percolation tanks, village/farm ponds, bunds, trenches, reservoirs, and other rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures. These efforts have resulted in protective irrigation for an additional 3.08 lakh hectares, helping rainfed area farmers save crops during deficient rainfall or drought conditions. The program has benefited 28.50 lakh farmers directly, generated 2.85 crore man-days of employment, and carried out afforestation, horticulture, and plantation activities across 1.45 lakh hectares.
Shri Chouhan urged states to work in a transparent, tech-enabled, performance-based, and people-centric manner to complete projects within stipulated timelines. He emphasized that watershed projects should be evaluated not merely on expenditure but on tangible outcomes including land reclamation, water availability, irrigation coverage, crop intensity, land productivity, and actual improvement in farmers' livelihoods. The Minister described watershed development as evolving from a scheme to a national campaign for water and land security, agricultural security, and rural prosperity, calling for coordinated efforts among states and implementing agencies to ensure comprehensive benefits reach all farmers and rural households.