areas an d desert areas

170 Pages·2013·13.57 MB·English

REPORT ON )
"
DEVELOPMENT OF DROUGHT PRONE
AREAS AN D DESERT AREAS
NATIONAL
COMMITTEE
ON
,
THE DEVELOPMENT OF BACKWARD AREAS
SEPTEMBER, 1981
-,
PLANNING COMMISSION, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
CONtENTS
SL.NO.
SUlll!1nlY of Cvlldllsions & R.,;commenuations id
1. Introuuction tii
2. Clit~ria for Delineation of Drought Prone Are!ts iii
3. Rl)vi.:w of P,lst ano Current Programmes iii.tv
4. Strategy of Development Iv
','Vale] shed Approach , viii
':'01..: of AglomcII)Orol~)gy in Agri":lI11unll Phdlll,ng x
7. Soil and Water COnservation
8. D~vd()pmcllt and Management of Irrigntion xi
9. Crop Planning anu Productivity. xii
10. Livestock Development xv
11. Pasture DGvelopmcnt ant! Range Mamlgemcnl xvii
I, ','
1:2.. Hortie,11tme Development \'~ -' xviii
13. AITol'lJs(utiu1t xix
14. S:llld DUlles Stabilisation in Arid Area xxi
15. Solar Ellergy <111l[ Wind Power Utilisation xxii
,
\~
,16. Strategy for Transport of Technology xxii
17. Nomad and Nomauism in Desert Area xxv
18. Organisational and Financial Arrangements. xxv
19. Acknowledgements
ANNEXURliS
CHAPTER 1
Alll1(!XUfG I District·wise population and Density 3
ANNfixURE II L::lltd Vtilisntion and Irrigation in DPAP Districts . 4
CHAI'TER 2
ANNIlXURll I l)istri.:ls sJ!ecl<lll by tI);.) S~';;l'ctJries Committee ia 1971 and those l"econm1Cllded by tIle Uidw(lJll I)
Committee.
ANNEXURE II Arcas Identified by the Irrigation CommissiOll. 11
ANNEXURE III DlllUght Prone Awus Programme- Projc:c( AlCu of DPAP II
ANNuxuRE IV St'lt(J·wi~\) District Tehsil and Ulca l[clinl.)'l(cd <1::; add 15
ANNEXURE V 15
CHAPTER 3
ANNllXURll I Sta[(:-wisc total Financial outhlYS ami EXPenc!illiJe tinder Rliral Works l'logrammC, 19'!O '[3. 27
ANNEXURIl II Sla tl.)l1l:nt showing the s'~ctor-wise cxpcnditu[1) under DPAP eluting IV Plan flom1974.75 to 31 st 2tl
August, 1980.
ANNllXURIl III I(,!y-I'ltlicators of Physical Achiovement" of M,'jol' Activities 28
ANNUXURll IV ;:)l.lkm.:111 showing til\) Administlatiw Approval given to the D.)sert Development sch~melJ in 29
Uuj:m1t, Huray.lll:) and Raj~s(haJl.
(i)
(i 1)
CHAPTER 10
t\;-lNEXURE r Liv~sto..:k br;;clls found in DPAP Districts 85
;\NNIlXUR8 H Statement showing Slatewisc cumulative physical Achkvemcnts of slu:ep cooperative Societies 88
established under DPAP Districts from April, 1974 to March, 1980.
ANNF.XURIl III Sh,;cp Cooperative Societies Estu blishment under IDA Assisted DPAP Districts during the year 88
1978-79.
ANNEXURE IV Shecp production pawmctcrs.(Shrcp Socieites Vs Villngc Flocks) (Avcmgc Impact of the 89
year 1978-79).
ANNEXURI! V Sheep Production parundcrs-1978-79 (SheeP Societies Vs Villv ge Flocks) 89
ANNEXURE VI Sh~cp D0velopcmcnt work on 100 Ha. plots in Rajasthan 91
ANN!!XURE VII P.:lsture D~velopment Schemes in Rajasthan·Pre-Investment Study by ARD in Janaury, 1979. 93
CHAPTER 11
ANNEXURE I Tcclmologies recommended by the Central Arid Zone Research Institute for development of 102
grass land and pasture.
ANNEXURE II Hrghligiltsofthercscarchworkdonc by the Grossland Rcscafchlnstilutc, Jlwmi,undc;r DPAPI
DDP Programmes of the Ministry of Rurdl Reconstruction. (Sourcc, Min. of RuraIRccon~-
truction). 103
ANNEXURE III Total PI'Oduetion of Dry Matter of Legume Species and Grasses (In Tonnes per hectare) 104
ANNEXURE IV Grasses and L-~gumes adaptable in diif.!rent rainfall conditions arc given below 104
ANNEXURE V Grasses and legumes adaptable for different landforms and Habitats in the country. 104
ANNEXURE VI Evaluation of Pasture programme pcrformilncc in IDA assisted Districts 105
ANNUXURE VII PJsture species p~rformance·summary of evaluations-IDA assisted DPAP Districts, 1978-79 105
A.NN"XURE Vin Summ::try of pasture production estimates 19%-1979 (IDA assisted DPAP District) • 106
CHAPTER 15
ANNeXUll1l 1 Monthly average wind speeds in km/hr 125
APPENDIX
CHAPTER 10
APPllNDIX I Cost of pasture establishment under one bectare of land in the project area (As per estimates of 96
CSWRI, Avikanager).
APl'llNDIX II List of miscellaneous articles given to· sto(;kmen in pasture plot ~IOO hectare) 96
APPENDIX III Repayment Schedule 91
CHAPTER. 19
ApPENDIX I Composition & terms of reference of Working Group on Rural DeveloptJ;lcnt of N.C.D.B.A. 142
ApP~NDIX II Questionnaire on Rural Development (Drought. Prone Area Development) 142
SUlVIMARY Ol~' CONCLUSIONS AND RECO~lMENDATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION tillle keeping ill view the I'CCOllllllcnc/atiollS of
the N atiol1ai Commissioll Oil Agriculture that a
1. Apart from the size and the geographical periodic review of these areas is neces~a/'v
spread of the drought prone areas, al10ther be_cause of thc developlI_!-cllts that afe COJltifl'l
important consideration why it is necessary w ollsly !'akil!g place, it would ollly be reasonable
formulate and implement an appropriate deve to expect .(fujt 'those Blocks which have already
lopment s,t,rategy 'for thesle areas is :that they come to a level of development which will put
represent a major factor contributing to regional them out's<ide the drollgh: prone Qtea category,
imbalances in development of the country. should be removed fronz ·the programme.
[PARA 1.5J (PARA 2.16]
2. As compared to other areas, the drought
5. Whilslt some new areas may qualify, some
prone tracts are more vulllerable to ecological
existing areas have to be deleted as non-qualify
degradation, leading,('o an increasing economic
ing. The CommiNee would, however, empha
dependency and social deprivation. [PARA 1.7 j
sise I,'hat il stieH,tific delilwation of areas is re
2. CRITERIA FOR DELINEATION OF quired if a scien1tific answer is to be foulld for
DROUGHT PRONE AREAS the amelioration of tile defect. [PARA 2.17]
3. The water balance technique seems to ue
6. The list of the Districts and the Blocks in
the logical approach for the objective of drought
I.he State concerned which hal'e been identified
prone; area dClliileation. This approach takes- into
on the basis of the recolflf:!_zendatiol1S! made by
asoccilo umnot. istpurreec isptoitraatgioen , ande~ :a..U_eaIp?oJ-.'pttr3a ntsopi raatriroinv ea nadt the N at'iollal Commission all Agriculture and
which have been taken up under the desert de.ve
a balance between walter il1come and water IO,H.
topment programme, these may be looked into
The. Commft,tee is of the view that while L'hig
in case there has been allY reorganisation o_t
may be em ideal approach, it does not appear to
Disofricl's or blockif. [PARA 2.21]
be practicall[k this sl'age far delineation purp_o
ses owing to paucHy of experime11tal data on
3. REVIEW OF PAST AND CURRENT
evapo-tr([nspirafion, soil moisture over the semi~ PROGRAMMES
arid and I'ropical l'egionS' and evolution of appro
pricite area specific agro-clim.atic models. As 7. The present approach is maiJlly confined
the objective of 'this Com~nitte_e is drought prone to developrnent at agriculture and allied sectors
are{J amelioration for planning and implemen wil'h its major focus on I'c,<,Jtol'ation of the eco
tation of progl'ammes fpr L'hi:! purpose thi:! ap logical balance. BiN tor (II'! integrated develop
tphreo aecsh's ewnNWa lbs ec aidne able, dpervoev/iodpeedd .t he Tbhaiss icw ildl,a thao 0w11 mnoetn th oelfp aIntoy aacrheiae, vea gtrhiecu idtuels'Cirle/ ds eocbtojer catilvoense. caainle
ever, 'take, time. Our objective being to find of ,the major reaS01lS for del'eriomtion in eco
1
means of increasing and stabilising produC!'ivity logical balance in these ,al'eaS is the excessive
in the concerned area, it seems reasonable to pressure of popuLation on ·land. Without provi
follow, for our purposes q'synoptic definition ding al1ternative sourceS! of incollle, any atte.mpt
that a Block can be defined a.9 drought affectf.d !'O promote opfiimum use of land and water can
if the paUern & quantujn of rain-precipitation, not succeed inspbte of the improved dry land
during the main crop season of the area, make3 agricuetural practice.!. [PARA 3.54]
the (ratli<tionaJ cultivation of the main crop of
8. Comprehensive planning aiming at alround
Ithe area hazardous in three years or more OUL' of
every 10 years. [PARAS 2.14 & 2.15] deveflopment of the area ha.'f yet to be taken up.
Eve,n the basic survey of exi~ting resources has
4. Till the necessary data is collected, and not been completed and there has been lack of
a scienNfic asS'eSSf'l1ent oj drought prone Blocks coordination between various agencies and pro
is done, the present area brought under a drought gramme~ in the district for development.
prone area pro!framme t11,ay continue ito be hand- [PARA 3.54]
. led under the j'pecial area progl'amme~. J.t has
been poil~ted out to the Committee during its 9. The presellJt concept is supposed to be
disclissionS! w~th !the States that even following based on the watershed approach. It was how
th~ criterion noW prevalent on the basis of which ever onli)' during f.llS<tl two or three years of the
pre~ent identification has been done, there are programme ,thml a~tempt.'f are being made· to
marginal areas of Blocks which need to be tryout thh concept and lhat too in a few dist.
l~rollght, within [the drought prone area pro ric}t" at Gujarat ana Rajas!!han. But in mmit
gramm.e. The Committee would recommend :that other district~, sectoral ofjicer~ considered
any .~uch cases should be examined on merit all DPAP alld DDP only as a source, of additionul
the existing definition and brought wilthin funds GntI intensified their adtivities wil'hout any
the programme if they qualify. At the same attempt for integrated watershed development.
(ii i)
(iV)
The !unl!wllc/lI'al ubjeC_:!ii~es of I'c;"/ul'ing ecolo CLlIl bel IIllpruved optimully with [lo/elltial aV~lil­
gical balance had 'lOt thuS' beell able to get the able ill the cllvirUIlIIU:ilt W lii/e over the hCld
desired {dtcntiolt. [PARA 3.55 & 3.56J yearS. [PARA 4.5]
10. Though in some "listriots there was a 16. Till i'/w delineatiun wzder tile Hew crite
mentioll of divisiOI! of the, dis,trict into major and riull is dOile with the necessary field data, the
slIb-wdterslzeds ill the master plan, the ac/'ua[ presenlt area delilleated CIS chronically drought
plannillg and implementation were not done 0'1 prone JIlay continue to be dealt wi;h under the
the basis of wate!~f1ecl approach In most dis special ((rep pfOgrammc. [PARA 4.6]
tric/'s, the lalld and J'Oil capability survey:t, the
resuurceS' fnveni/ory etc. havc not been fully 17. The problem8 at the desert areas are
completed. [PARA 3.57] different in many wayS' from those in the se11li
aJ'id and dry sub-hlllnid regions. An anulysis
of Ithe situa,,'ioll shows q yery cOlllplicated trelld.
11. In (m integrated .lrea development pro
gramllle for Vlte effective implementafion of the Tot,al cultivated area is' III uch less than lotal
arcas available for cultivation. Animal wealth
approach, funding and expenditure should be
i:f under-exploited il1spt'te of the fact that the
cOfvtroUed by Ithc same !ldency. Unfortunately,
however, thi,"! is 110t so. The programme for tbrraecetd sC oaot)f bcaotatlset, ao1f! dt h"ee cboegsnti slaibulleia nb redeuda lo pf usrhpeoespe.
infra!'AructUf'e dcvelopmmt is sub"taltt1ally de·
The livestock economy is migratory in character,
pendent 01Z outlays in (.he State Sector. The mainly dlle to lack of all the year aruond graz
priorities of the State organisations controlling
ing and water facilities. [PARA 4.71
such outlays l1leall'~ for the entire State is, how
ever, seldom in compatibility with the prioritipJ
18. In dttcmpting the development of areas,
of the drought prone area development adminis
the restoratioll ot the ecological bala.nce between
tration. [PARA 3.61]
the water, the soils, the, plants, the hum all -alld
animol popUlation should be a basic consider.1-
12. Conceptually, an <wea development pro tion lind should undel"lille the develoPlIlent s-tru
gramme call1lot alld shuufd not be designed on /'£',!?y. It indic.[~tes the need for bringing auollt
the basis of a CCI','aill fixed SUfi! of money being an appropriate Land use pattern which will be
repeated every year. Moreover, infrastructure conducive to attaining the neceSS(lry ecological
Sltch as dairying, road:t, electric _i transmission
balance. [PARA 4.8J
lines, have Their impact Ol'er areas milch larger
than the blocks and evell somelime3 a di:!!'rict. 19. There is sufficient tedliwlogy available
The prescnt system of funding leaves, there/ol'c, tor increasing productivity in drought prone
much Ito be desired. [PARA 3.63] areas 0/ Ithe coum'ry except ill extremely difficult
lund ,and water o!itzUltiom. An agressive adap
13. There, i:'1 now sltfJicicllt technology avail tive reS'earch and ,tcchnolt'gical transfer through
{lbie for illcreasillg productivity ill !'he drought a proper e;~tellsioll maclullery should be able to
prolle ureas of the cOllntry except in extre increasl1 Pf'()(Zuctivify substantially. [PARA 4.11]
Inely difficult lwul aild wqter situatio/1$. What
20. The aim wui cOllcePt outlilled by the
is lacking, however, io! an aggressive adap!'iye ([S
Cotnmittee in [Jara 2.12 vj Chapter 2 of its
research and technological tr,(ll1sfer pwgramnJ.e
report on "Organis,atiol! oj AdlllilliS'tl'w'ive and
through a proper extension lI~achinery. Financial Structure jor flackward Area Develop~
[PARA 3.73] mellt", should be, to impnJl'e the quality oj life
of the people in the baclqvard m·eas. Policies and
4. STRATEGY OF DEVELOPIV.iENT programmes [i'hould be conceptualised and desig
ned, keeping t'his overall cOflcept ill view, and
14. A block should be tlte local area for lulministr,ative, social and economic.: institutions
assessing drought, pronellC.U. On the principles adapted and adjusted towards this end.
evolved by the Departmel1t of Me,'corology for
(messing recurrence oj the period of high defi [PARA 4.14J
ciellcy raillfall, {m exercise should be done
immediately to as'ses.r the position in the various 2 t. Willie a cOfllprehclIs;I'C frame will btJ
the ulrimdte objeCl'ive, th.:. spread alld the expec
blocks falling broadly in the region of the pre wm
tation have to he adjusted to the presel1t
Sent drough1t pralle {weas demarcated in country.
This exercise, will be more relevcmt to the objec level of ab010rbable capa.;ily of the poplllal'iotl
of ncw techniques and skills and the capacity of
tive the Comrnil'Pee is !l_ceking than a broad
classification by regions. [PARA 4.4J the administration and institutions to cover ~'he
field in the comprehelZsive nJwmer required in a
backward arUI. Under thi,s approach, it should
15. Experiellce over tIle years hw shown be bome if! mind that the programmes, would
that elvery ,year some part of this vast country have to be both area and beneficiary oriented.
01' i'he other is susceptible 10 droughlt. Where FOr beneficiary oriented programmes, "family"
the drought is severe, relief tneasures are the should he regarded (/.1" {1asic human unit for
obviouS' ,!lIlSwer. The entire country cannot be planning and development and for the area
drought proofed. In [he chronically drought planning and development "Block" should be
affected areas, the eCOrU!_J71Y of the population taken al'J the unit. [PA.RA 4.14]
(v)
22. The whole cO/mll'Y has been covered by was cllvisaged that a prnper Land Usc Board
(/CI'ial photography il1 Mil de al1d white mId this Ivill be COlls'liillled at the CClltr,". The COIll
is to be J'1'/lCfI(f'd at on illtci'val 0/ 5 to 10 years. lIIit,,!!!! places !!l'eL1[ I'ciftl!1ce Oil (/ propel' land
The SUl've), ,:1 lildia gets the areas photographed use clipability survey, particularly, if! the
and the plio'Lo ltzterpretafioll techniques have drought, prone areas, jor maximising productivity
been very well del'eloped, where one Can see of land tinder the hostile el1l'ironment
lIla.ny things·. TV e: cem interpret the photographs
il1 j'erms of geology, geomorphology, geohy [PARA 4,191
drolt)g)" Zemd lise, soils and forestry and they
26. The basic sphere dominating the farm
give /1,\' very ~'pecific informatioann and detailed pOPlllation is the possihility of drought and
maps Ul:! hi.' prepa;"cil covering these Q8pect,v. the famine, forcing it to produce as milch
Comhillillg all the data Ql'id mapot avanable with (1..'1 [Jos~lible 'in a llo},iII~l area not only
suitable [j1'tJllfld level, we COIl prepare optimal for L'Ite hO!1le cOllswllptio!l but also as carry
Zrmd lise and land capabaiity map.!, which would ol'er fo}' the next yeu)' whe/1 the food crops may
prol'ide j,'h:' b(Jsic gllid:;nr]es for plan/ting for fail. Thi" few' complex lead" to bad land lise
af{ricliltural and other de\'elopment. This tech
and anyhow does /ldt satisfy the I'equirenle!!-ts
';';1/11 c CW! be 1Ised on a lal'ge selIle, district-wise, for foor/grains. If the farm population is to
repion-wise and bflsill-wise to study in a scientific be brollght om' of this fear complex, and persua
1I1~;[IIC'i', o-ur renew(llJ!e resources for a proper ded to grow 1]lOre valuable cash crops that
011
land snil lo';!atl'l' management. [PARA 4.161 land, which is now possible by the technology
available, or change over .to pasture develop
23. The effect of drOll[;hl' i.'l a i,ack oj water lIlent and animaJ husbandry, there !1lllS't be
balance which involve8 tJu.: soil structure, evaro Some guaran-tee that they will get their food
trallspi;"cition crmditions (if the various crop9 of requirements throughout tile year at a reasonable
, tile (lrc,[ and the rain/all patterl1 during !'lIe maht pl'icc from nearby fail' price shops. The country
rainfall scason. This l'eqlli~'e!J a IHllch mOl'~ de with its vast food rUstrifJution organisaI'ion IS
toaUed analvsis oj the environmenta~ conditions /lOW in a position to give this guarantee provi
tor propn: guidance on the types at crops a!~d ded the requirements (If',! estimated in detail at
t/zf'ir varieties to be grmPl, proper land use 111 the block leve!, adjusti!!g requirements to the
zrtili8h1/? l'llst':l'e clevdoPIIlent, hOl'ticultur(', cJwnges in cTo[Jping that hm'c taken place and
plal!tations and forcstry to n~ake maximum use providing the necessary foodgraim through the
of tile el1vimnmelll'al co.nditions and land qualt'ty season Cit nearby filiI' price ~·hop.'i'. The Com
av(/ii'~'1ble. Ulili,\lilZg tile macro guidance given bv mittee wOllM sped/ally .lrmv attention to this
studies Oil t/w lincs (/011(' l)y the CAZRI for sllpport for a proper land USe strategy.
districts ill RaJas,awn, the position will have I'eo [PARA 4.21]
be refilled jor each block by suitably constituted
inter-departmental groups, which will, after local 27. There are lot of research findings avail
check of the vnriOllS [Jaf'ome'ters and the scienti able in the All India Coordinated Research
fic knowledge thell «Ivailoble, guide the extension Project tor Dry/and Agriculture. A continuous
workers in the types of land use that can be up duting 01 !the ,technology hm to be done in
int'l'odllced, with profit. [PARA 4.17] order 10 refine the field level advice to ~'he ex-
tension organisation, [PARA 4.22]
24. The CAZRI may train state level teams
to ca,rry OTlt I11(1CI'O sW'veys in the drought' prone 28. Un i-discipli.nary rese,arch nolV generally
areas as has been done by them in RajasthaTl. prevalent in fhe Agricultural Universities and
These state-level teams lIIust have the nece,~sary Parallel Research belng carried 011 in variolls
Itechnical ('x[1cr'ti.i'e 1'0 flirt her. refine the macro institutions-Central and State-in various
studies and to give "ecommendation:; at the aspects of the sciences have to be brought
block level for extension pur[Jo$e$. The Mif!i~'tr.Y t08ether in a multi-disciplinary applied research
of Agriculture may form a Working Group to programme in order (0 solve the specific pl'obl-
develop this concept at a u~clmical Gtudy team
lems of drought prone areas. [PARA 4.21]
at the State level to perform this necessary func
tion for drought prone area development. Thi9
wOi'killg group may also go into tha adaptlve 29. A joil1l~ team ot the, leAR and the
World Bank had recommended the conS'titlltiOlt
research wOl'k that will be necessary in each
stage t'o refine 'the macro research conclusions of regional research cen~res on a multi-discipli
nary basis by AgricuUlIral Universities in the
on a location specific basis /01" the drought
cowitry to deal s'pecifka!ly with a multi-disci
prone 'areas and identify Ithe f,(lrm,~ and ,~he plinary c+pproach to regional agricultural pro
gl'Ol! ps that will do the l1!!CeSsary ad aptz.ve
grammes including crop husbandry, aninlal
'research. [PARA 4.181 husbandry, forestry, hOl·ticultllre, and jishrie"
The Commiti'ee will strongly recommend that
.25. The States had been advised to form this concept already enshtined in the reports of
Land Use Botwds which wOl/lel underl'ake this the Joint C()mmittee be translated into effect
work in th, StdteS'. The Ministry of Agricul bv [CAR whether the World Ballk is' ffna.ncil'!;?
tui'e is at prcsent performin.g the junctions of the same 0)" not. Such multi-disciplinary re
(_'ooi"dinatiw,' this work at fhe Cel'l.tl'm lelle'. l! gional rC'search centl'fS hI each of many di,fterellt
(vi)
regions of drought are vital to support the State,~ 100 acres. This i,~ due to the responsibility
drollght pralle areas amelioration programme. cast on l'arious organisatiolls for minor irrigatio1l
[PARA 4.22J alUi ,their present capacity to survey and design
fhe prujects. In drollght prone areas the preci
30. Whereas a lot can Jtill be done by tapping pitation has to he conserJ'ed on a watershed
available sourface and ground water resources in basi:! startirig from highest available point for
the droughtt prone di~L'ricts, it has long ago been E·tortlge and gradually going down alld trying 70
realised that amelioration of dl'Ought prone dis hold back as much ,ail. of the precipitation as<
tricts can only be carried out effectively by possible within the watershed. This will require
tr,ansfer of water from more richly endowed CI sySotem of designing small ponds and minor irri
basins 1'0 'the drought prone areas. In yuture gation reservoir" for very ..Imall area.y of com
plallning, the, sotrategy !1!ill have to be to ensure mand.. l:he cr:nstruction will be simple. An
that inter basin transfers Lire syste1J]Cltically deve orl?al1lsatLOIt Will have to be given the responsi
loped and relief given to drough~' pronc area." bNity for planning srich water holdings structures
particltlarly those which do not have much of on a watershed b,asiS' ill drought prone al·eaf.
The obviolls organisation would be the soil
n.atural precipitation. (PARA 4.25)
conservation organisa!'ion suitably stre,ngthened
31. Crops give maximum return when the with the necessary expertbe. [PARA 4.31)
evapo-tfanspiration balance-is maintained during
the crudal periods of crop growth. In other . 36. Ground water exploitation and conjunc
periods, slight ,~'tress can be stood by the crops t/ve use of ground and !,oUrface water will be
without serious damage. A little ul1der-wateri!1,~ an essential ingredient, ill agricultural develop
in the other period is lI(ll a serious consl'railtt. ment of drought prone areas. In some of the
On the other hand, the mentality oj sufficiency arid and semi-arid areas the ground water - is
oj water leads to save productivity. Here there salille, 111. such specially difficult areas a pro
i.~ a need for ithe laboratory to get close, to the per planning of conjunctive use of Siatfne and
land in translating -,'he prillciple of proper aneZ fresh water and suitable agronomic practices
economic water use. [PARA 4.26J wu[ selection of cultivay,~ folerating levels of
salinity, will all have to be {tiled in to the
32. For making better lise of available water pl:ogranlille. The objective is maximum use of
wIll/lever water is aVailtlble. In this conteit
in drought jar crops to gi,'c ma_timum coverage
the large, scale expcrim~ntation by IiarYana of
in itTigation both by sekcfion oj crops needing
lower water duty alld by rigid control of water lititi,~il!g saline ground wa~el' in the canal system
use ill the irrigation systems by bririging i,l1to is worth looking into, [PARA 4.32]
ejJecl' all aids for sllch (\mtro/s like linking of
canals (Ind callal controls-if this method is 37. The Committee recommends I'hat immed
followe.d, may be much more than 30 per cent folci), t1he present stage of lise at the reservoirS'
of grass cropped area willI eceive attention. This in the various drought pr<.'ne areas, the system
should be the objective, [PARA 4.27] of reclamm'ion and the cropping pattern may
be investigated quickly (ind at lepst within the
33. GilI' (irs!' objective should be to ensure next year a propel' plan of maxinJ,ining the USe of
that each family in the are,a gets a reasonable sllch water drawn up. [PARA 4.34]
firm base tor his economy so that in s'erious
drollghts only marginal help will be needed for
38. As a !najority of the populal'ion in the
the family. Thereby also large scale migration
drought pralle areas depend on land based acti
of man and catNe can be prevented. There b,
therefore, justification fur bringing in the princi vities like crop-farming ~md animal husbandry,
ple of social justice and equity in distribution (If Ihe core task for devel.Qpment will be to pro
rnote rational u!'ilisation of land and available
water to the families. 'lhe Committee would
recommend .~eriously such an approach to be waagtr~i>cr.u lturTeh e arneds earacllhi edin ssteictutotirosn s havwe orkeivnogl veind
followed, if necessary, with legislative support.
(j consofderable amount of technology for improv
[PARA 4,29] ing and stabilising the economy of walersheds
in the drought prone tl!'U1S. The major task
34. lIZ middle India, it is generally noticed now i" its trelnsjer, in a package, to the people
that in major irrigation .schemes main canals
pass throllgh deep cuttings in several reaches residing ill these watershed!i-. lPARA 4.35J
and higher lands on both sides may be drought
affected. J.t is desirable that where such situa 39. The Task Force on Rural Development as
tions exist, relief is given to the droughl' affected well as the N(~tional CommiSSion on Agriculture
area hy sllitable lift irrigation projects. has therefore rightly stressed that the strategy
for development of drought prone areas has
[PARA 4.30]
necesosarily to be huilt mainly around animal
35. The Committee notices I'hat generally husbandry. Animal Husbandry in conjunctio'l
minor ir.,·igation scheme~' of surface reservatI's with dairing is considered to offer a more stable
are /lot designed and constructed for commands base t/zan crop farming for sustained income tor
less them ill some States 200 acres and in some the. 1'lIr!1! households in these areas. [PARA 4.38~
(vii)
40. Notwithsl'anding the land "CSOlirce conS' 'the crucial ope1"atiolls. In planni11g the deve
traints, these areas do fJf] er considerable scope lopment of a drought prone area, these Ollt
for pasture alld fodder development on the avail migration opportunities should not be lost sight
able areas if the latesl! technology tor fodder of. [PARA 4.44]
crop and pasture development ~volved at the
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, 46. it has been noticed that intensive agri
the Indian Fodder alld Gr,asslallds Research cultural activities in many parts of "he endowed
Institute, Jhallsi, and other places is adopted areas has resllited in high wage employment
tl1
appropriately. [PARA 4.41] a large number of out-migrants from 'the pOOl'
agricull'ural area.9. It may be necessary to assess
41. The problem of employrl1C/1~ has to be these opportunities .allel ul flise them in¢tead of
tackled by providing oppurtllnitie3 in the secon trying to keep back people il1 the drought prone
dary and lertiary sectors. Unless the indus areas under low wage employmem schemes like
fries and service ~;ectol's absorb the unemployed the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Mahar:J
and under employed, it will not be possible to shtra. [PARA 4.44]
reduce the p1'eSSllre on !clnel in the watershed
area. These areos, however, have good potelZ~ 47. Many lat'ge projects like irrigatioll pro
tial 1'0 provide employment in the non-agricul jects in the country are today suffering fl'oij1.
fund sector. Some of the droURht prone distrz'cts lack oj the right type of semi-skilled labol/r
have very Rood industrial reSOllrces' like lime for completing their work on schedule. There
stOlle, bauxite and manganese. [PARA 4.42J is scope here for increasing the number of semi
skilled labour who can ge~ into these opportu
42. For !'he development of industrial sector nities. The obvious places to look for sllch
in the drought prone are os, the growth centre labour for upgrading their skills (lfe the drought
,approach wi{] have to b2 synchronised with the prone areas of 'the country. The Committee
watershed approach so that a clear appreciation would emphasise that in planning labour for the
might emerge on the extent to which the plans people in the drought prone areas, the question
for secondary and tertiary ~eC!'ors are com~ of skill and wages should be kept clearly in
plemental'Y and supplementary to the land based mind. Whether wz'thin the area or by out-migra
activities. [PARA 4.43] tion if the family can earn more ana cross the
poverty line, every step should be taken to see
43. III the contexl' of i[crelopment of drought thdt the people are advised in the correct direc
pralle areas, where flew activities 01· functions 'tion. Particulady, when moving large masses
are proposed, their locatian becomes extremely of labour to new opportunity centres, a good
important because sllch locm'ion at appropria(e deal of State support in organisation and move
places will stal't a chain /'(!({ctiOf2 of developmmt ment will be ,necessary. [PARA 4.441
with far reaching effect,'!. Therefol·e,.an unde"~
standing of functional inter-relationships i:t 48. As development fakes place ,alongwith the
space goes (! lOllg way towards the development desired lines, many agricultural cormnodities for
of a drought prone area. Further, decentralisation local processing alld semi-processing will be
and the actual location of fUllctiolls need to be available. Extraction of sunflower oil, milk
dOlle with in the framework of 'a region encom proces'sing, wool grading o!ul preliminary pro
passing hOi'h urban and rural sectol's. [PARA 4.43] cessing are instances. Tile 3cope for sllch eCO
nomic activity needs to be assessed in e,ach area
44. In relation. to the drougHt prone areas, and processing units located, where fea,yible.
separation of urhan and "w'al areas S1pells harm [PARA 4.45]
from the point of view of the overall develop~
ment of :thc region and its impact on the people. 49. The prOVISIon of drinking water stlpplV
In the drought p"one ..JreQS, a gradual urba,t is an inzportant elemedt in any programme of
rural contilluem should dewlop with the inten development in. drought prone areqs. These
sity of wdtershed approach combined wilh areas experience acute scarcity of drinking water.
growth centre concept. The Committee has both for human populati0f1 as well as livestock,
already dealt with this c.spect in its report on because of low rainfall. In fact, no develop
bulusirial Dispersal alUl on the developme/1ft of ment of livestock is possible in potential areas
village and cottage Industries. tPARA 4.43] without ithe facility of dtillking water. Priority
attention, therefore, needs to be given. to locating
sources of drinking water in those areast.
45. From malty drougHt pl'One areas itt !'he
country there is seasonal out-migration of vari [PARA 4.46]
OilS types of lalJOltr to take advantage of the .,>,emi
skilled labollr opportunities available in the 50. Since the~'e is paucity of local water re
large scale induc"trial and construction dev-ezop SOlll'CeS, w,afer has to be inducted from outside
ment taking place in the country. There has the arid zone. The Rajasthan Canal Project is
also been seasonal migration dUring the agricul.· an instance of sllch an e[jol·t. ThiS' canal is de
tural season like the .';>owing season and the signed to irrigate areas ai01tR the western borUl
harvesing season to the more agriculturally dal'Y of Rajasthan but the interior desert areas
endowed areas to supplel'dellt the local labol{r in do not derive any benefit from it. The project
2-631 P.C./NDj81
(viii)
should be recast to exclude unsuitable a1':eas, 58. The cold desert itf the country occurs in
where the cost of land fevellittg and develop Ladakh valley iii Jammu and Kashmir. Tile
mellt will be high and to construct life canals Lahaul Spill Valleys and the Kinlwur region
to take some waterdeepc/' into the desert with a in Himachal Pradesh are also considered as
view to bringing more areas under irrigatign cold semi arid. The population in these areas
and extending the bene/i to a larger section of is sparse. The extreme climatic conditions,
the community. A beginning has already been lack of communication and :the level of educa
made in thi~ direotion. [PARA 4.47] tion make development of these areas a diffi
cult t~k. All efJOI'lts made so far to develop
51. For maximising the utilisation of the these <Greas achieved little success. The Com
scanty rainwater, suitable water con.'tervatioll mittee would, however, like to emphasise that
techniques like Khadnis. bandhis and alhandhis the available information is not sufficient for
will have to be adopted Oll a larger scale. formulating the srtrategy jor development and
indicating the feasibility of different program
[PARA 4.48]
mes. In our view, many more inve~tigations
52. In the early stages of development of the and more extensive research based 011 local en
vjronment.al conditions--physical and soc[o
canal command areas, there will be water to
economic are required before viable economic
spare ill Ithe canals. This opportunity needs to
programme can be impleme.nted effectively in
be utilised. As water becomes available in an
these areas. This haS' to be given the top most
area, a large xale programme of tree planta&
tion) raising of shelter belts and wind breaks priority. [PARAS 4.53 & 4.56]
and rejuvenation of vegetable cover will have
~o be undertaken. This programme will arre:~t 5. WATERSHED APPROACH
wind erosion, sand blowing and sand casting on
59. For a complete waterSthed approach one
arable fields i{lnd also reduce the de.5'iccdting
has L'o bring soil conservation measures, water
effect of hot winds 011 CJ'pps. [PARA 4.49] conservation and storage measures, dry land
farming, animal husbandry, afforestation and"
53. The economy of the desert area should minor irrigation as !the minimum number of di.~­
continue to be mainly animal husbandry orien ciplille u.nder a coordinated approach. At
ted. The desert area has a natural endowment present, the wal'ershed approach in the DPAP
oj several good breeds of cattle and ~heep. A is one of the many programmes that Ithe district
major thrust of the development programme has carries out under DPAP. It is t'aken as a sepa
to be on 'the prevention, in a large measure, rate programme by itself with a coordinated
of the 110inadism of the cattle breeders and approach limited to few watersheclSl taken up
sheep owners. An organised programme of under Ilhe programme. The Committee would,
livestock development will have stabilising influ therefore, suggest Ithat if the sub-plan approach
all
ence. . [PARA 4.50] that the Committee has reconunended for
backward area development programl1Jes in -its
54. In canal command areas dairy develop report on 'Ol'ganisdtio.n af Administrative and
Financial Structure for Backward Area Deve
meltt and mill, chilling centres and milk pro
lopment' is noW brought ini'o effect in the DPAP
ducts factories should be undertaken.
dis,trict) Ithis soattered handling of programmes,
[PARA 4.50]
which should be brought together for maximum
benefit, will 110t continue to affect growth.
55. In the arid areas the major emphasiS' has [PARA 5.31
to bl!" on sheep development. The good breeds
oj sheep available in this region can be further
60. For planning a proper watershed
improved both for wool aHd mutton. [PARA 4.51] apporach for any watershed the basic physical
features like the physiography, land slope,
56. Apart from improving the quality of ndture and depth of the soil and the hydrologi
sheep, wool shectdng and grading centre$ have cal behaviour of the soils and the slopeS' in the
to be established and arJ'angements made for watershed have first to be studied and analysed.
wool and meat marketing~l. Another dimensiml Scientific allocation of tHe various parts Of the
to this development is the possibility of creati!1g land for !'he right type of vegetative cover, grass,
more employment in the cottage industry by pro trees or agricultural crops will depend on this
cessing the wool Z()cally. For Ithis, adequate initial analysis of the physical characters. The
extension support will be necessary. [PARA 4.51] type of soil-conservation measures and moisture
conservation measures can be planned on the
57, Attention ha~ ,therefore to be paid to large bas-is of !the physiographic data. The present
scale development of pastures, regulated graz~ land use and the hazards ill soil and water dete~
rloration that !'llis leads to, - have then to be
ing 'to prevent over use and creation of'. grass
reserves and fodder banks tor supp'ly of hay 'in studied in detail S'O thdt mitially a programme of
scarcity yearS. In canal command area9, the stopping the deterioration, with a follow up
cropping pattern has to be adjusted to bring 30 programme of rehabilitation of the areas that
per cent of the are~ WIder fodder cro[pr.s in mixed have, de'teriol'ated can be sUil'ably designed.
farrning. ' AM 4.5~J [PARA S.~]
(ix)
61. The watershed char!lcteri~tics vary accord 65. If we have, to carry OUt large scale deve
ing to the permutations alld combinations of the, lopment on a watershed basis qUickly, it may be
basic factors of land, ;,lope, ndture .and depth desirable to handle large watersheds in the initial
oj soil. precipitation and induction of water planning. On the other hand, a watershed
from outside. Thus, planning for two wat.e.r management programme l'eqllil'e~ the coopera
sheds cannot be made on an identical pattern. A tion of the villages. If too many villages are
watershed management plan has fo be highly brought within the watersheds, it may be diffi
location specific. It can therefore be carried out cult to get i'he hum(ln cooperCltion that i~' neceS
only by a technical group vf experts who under sary fo}' efjectivelleS's 9f tfte opemtion. Basi!tg
stand the variations of the_se jactors in plann on these considerations, the Committee would
ing a waj'ershed management programme. The recommend that generally in drought prone are_Cos
planning cannot be lefit to lower levels of field a watershed of 'the order af 5000 hectares would
workers. This group expelltise should be available be a workable proposition. Of COllrse, in spe
bale at the project level, supported by higher cially difficult area!}, the approach may have to
experti~e in the line dep[')'lments. fPARA 5.5] be changed to ditJelem1 linlitS. {PARA 5.111
62. Till a comp,;ehensive attack on the pro 66. Watersheds oj smaller size have distinct
blem can be made on a sub-plan basis in the advantage of involving a small number of vil
DPAP districts, it is esselltial anyhow to ensure lages within a resource L1nit that share the com
that the departmen'tai schemes are suitably exa mon historical, social and economic patternY,
mined by L'he project authorities to ensure that Selection of large watershed ~ntailing large finarl
they do not create the hazard~ and where such cial outlay for its development should be avoid
hazards exist due corrections are made in the ed because the larger ~'he area of the water, the
project on a continuing bas-is. [PARA 5.6] greater will be the he,terogeneity in other water
shed characteristics like soil, vegetation, slope,
land use and socia-economic condil.'ions. Hence,
63. Normally a watershed managemeomn l integrated planning will be complex jor larger
approach and plan would have been based watersfleds. [PARA 5.12J
the rainfall preCipitation within the watershed.
All dther aspects of planning like soil and water 67. As 'the funds for area development would
conservaL'ion, cropping, etc. would naturally naturally be limited, some priority in action
follow this basic factor. On the other hand, will have tc? be brought ill L'he planning. Where
as and when the master plans for minor irriga general detel'ioiaiion has to be Sltopped and
tion, medium irrigdtion alid major irrigation are areas ,rehabiUtated, the prograrnmes would
generally be soil conserv,ation and afj9restal'io)'l.
carried out in L'he various districts it may ~a
happen that the irrigation system will create including paS'ture developlJwnt. For this pur
complications in the plan all'fl_ady done and lead pose, the watershed in the project area will have
to subsj'antial modifications in the watershed to be analysed tor identifying mini wf/L'ersheds
management programme. In order to avoid falling under the following three classes:~
this, it is desirable to ex_a!Jline the watershed (i) substantial deterioration needing prompt
planning in a drought prone districL' against a action;
master plan for irrigation and then work out
(I (ii) moderate de~'erlol'ation where investments
suitable plan of adjustment as the programmes
can be spre,ad over a longer time,' and
of ifrigadon come into operation. This will
(iii) reasonably low deterioration areas which
have to be a con'tinuous prOfess of exaFJ:lination
can be improved by mere human action
alld adjustment. [PARA 5.7J
in utilisalion of th_~ larld and resources,
The large soil conservation programmes that the
64. A monitoring of the soil and water loss State undertake every y~ar should be worked
from the watershed will be a correct' measure of out on above listed priority schedule.
the extent of success t'hat has been achieved l/1. [PARA 5.14]
.the planning and exectl.tion of a watershed
managemem'. Monitoring of both soil and water 68, There should be elll adequate mechanism
loss is easy in a watershed approach if the moni~ at L'he State Headquarters and at field level for
taring unit is located at a point at the, outlet collection of data through field units, or from
of the drainage system at the watershed, A time concerned agencies. The need for the basic
series of soil and water loss a~ this point will data should be fully recoghised and their collec
enable the rnOlil'toring am'horities to estimate the tion, analysis and interpretatiOn. should be
efjectivemsSl of, the actipn. Where the monitor· considered as a pre-investment ,toward_s proper
ing shows no significant if!1prOvement as expec planning _a nd imp~ementation 'at watershed
ted) L'he monl'ioring authority can work back to management programmes.. [PARA' 5.15]
the minor watersheds within the watershed and
identify the particular mini watershed which has 69. The mo~llog~'cal s~'ep would appear 'to b,e.
'to be de all' with in detml for better soil and to incorporate corrective m~asures in the exis~­
moisture conservation. This action will ha,le ing land use system to make the present land use.
to be 'a continuous proce§_s of monitoring and praC!'ices less vulflerable to erosion and degrada-.
improvement. ' [PARA S.9J tion, hazards. ,Simu~taneously, , aNernat~ye