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 program's role in achieving a 'Drought-Free India for Developed India'. The minister stressed that watershed development should focus on bringing water to fields, increasing land productivity, and improving farmer income and livelihood rather than merely constructing water bodies.
Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, 1,220 projects covering 52.93 lakh hectares have been sanctioned with a total cost of ₹12,404 crore, including a central share of ₹8,134 crore. Of this central share, 85% (₹6,955.75 crore) has been released to states. The program has demonstrated significant agricultural transformation, with approximately 1.40 lakh hectares previously supporting barely one crop now yielding two to three crops annually due to watershed interventions.
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 coverage expanding by 3.08 lakh hectares, helping rainfed area farmers protect crops during deficient rainfall or drought conditions.
The program has directly benefited 28.50 lakh farmers while generating 2.85 crore man-days of employment. Additional environmental benefits include afforestation, horticulture, and plantation activities across 1.45 lakh hectares. Minister Chouhan urged states to implement projects transparently using technology, focus on performance-based outcomes, and complete projects in time-bound manner, evaluating success based on land reclamation, water availability, irrigation coverage, crop intensity, land productivity, and actual improvement in farmers' livelihoods rather than mere expenditure.
The minister characterized watershed development as a mass movement through 'Watershed Yatra' and 'Watershed Festival', aiming to transform it from a scheme into a national campaign for water and land security, agricultural security, and rural prosperity.