Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Rural Development addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding the conversion of wasteland into fertile land. While land management primarily falls under State Governments, the Government of India supplements these efforts through schemes like the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDCPMKSY). The program is currently in its second phase (WDCPMKSY 2.0) running from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDCPMKSY):
WDCPMKSY 1.0 (2009-10 to 2014-15):
* 6382 watershed projects were supported, covering 29.59 million hectares across 27 States and UTs.
* Central share of Rs. 19,926.67 crore was released to the States/UTs.
* 7.64 lakh water harvesting structures were created/rejuvenated.
* An additional area of 16.40 lakh ha was brought under protective irrigation.
* 36.34 Lakh farmers benefitted.
* 3.36 lakh ha of culturable wasteland has been treated from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
WDCPMKSY 2.0 (2021-22 to 2025-26):
* 1220 watershed development projects sanctioned, covering 52.95 lakh ha across 28 States and UTs.
* Total cost of Rs.12972.85 crore (Central share: Rs.8487.96 crore).
* Cost norms for watershed projects vary: Rs.22,000/ha (plain areas), Rs.28,000/ha (hilly/difficult areas), up to Rs.28,000/ha (Left Wing Extremism Affected Districts).
* Central share of Rs.5152 crore has been released to the States/UTs.
* 1.35 lakh water harvesting structures created/rejuvenated (2022-23 to 2024-25).
* An additional area of 1.90 lakh ha brought under protective irrigation (2022-23 to 2024-25).
* 6.76 lakh hectare of degraded rainfed area has been developed (2022-23 to 2024-25).
* 13.42 lakh farmers have benefitted (2022-23 to 2024-25).
* 1.18 Lakh SHGs have been formed in the watershed project areas and supported with revolving funds of around Rs.523 crore.
Training and Technology:
* Training on Natural Resource Management and improved production systems is provided to watershed communities.
* The Wasteland Atlas 2019, developed with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), provides geospatial information on wasteland changes between 2008-09 and 2015-16 (at 1:50,000 scale).
* Promotion of GIS and Remote Sensing technologies in planning, execution, and monitoring of watershed projects.
* Land Resource Inventerization (LRI) based watershed management is being piloted in selected project areas.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
Impact: Responsible for taking suitable steps for converting wasteland into fertile agricultural land.
Action Required: Implement land conversion strategies and coordinate with central government programs.
Farmers and Rural Communities:
Impact: Beneficiaries of financial and technical support to transform wasteland into productive agricultural land.
Action Required: Participate in available schemes, utilize training programs, and adopt recommended technologies.
Department of Land Resources (DoLR):
Impact: Implementing agency for WDCPMKSY.
Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring WDCPMKSKY 2.0, promote technological advancements, and collaborate with State Governments and NRSC.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for rural development programs.
Department of Land Resources: A department under the Ministry of Rural Development responsible for land resource management.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: A Government of India scheme focused on improving water use efficiency and irrigation.
Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: A component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana focused on developing rainfed and degraded areas through watershed management.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, which assigns land as a subject under the purview of State Governments.
National Remote Sensing Centre: An organization collaborating with the Department of Land Resources to map wastelands using remote sensing technology.
Wasteland Atlas 2019: A publication by the Department of Land Resources and the National Remote Sensing Centre providing geospatial information on wastelands in India.
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh: Union Territories in India where watershed development projects under WDCPMKSY are being implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF LAND RESOURCES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4173
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
Conversion of Wasteland into Fertile Land
4173. Shri Naveen Jindal:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the wasteland has been successfully converted into fertile agricultural land
in rural area since 2020, State and year-wise:
(b) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to convert wasteland in rural
areas into arable land for agriculture;
(c) the details of the skill development programs are in place to train rural communities in
wasteland restoration techniques;
(d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to identify and map wasteland in
rural India using satellite technology and remote sensing;
(e) whether there are any new scientific or technological innovations being explored for large-
scale wasteland reclamation, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether any financial or technical support is available for farmers and rural communities
to transform wasteland into productive agricultural land under Government scheme, if so,
the details of the beneficiaries covered under the aforementioned scheme, since 2020,
year-wise ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)
(a), (b) & (f): As per the Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India, ‘land’ falls under the
purview of State Government and, therefore, it is for the State Governments to take suitable steps
for converting wasteland into fertile agricultural land. However, Government of India
supplements the efforts of State Governments through various programmes.
1The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) is implementing Watershed Development
Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) for development of
rainfed / degraded areas. The activities undertaken in the scheme, inter alia, include ridge area
treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery
raising, pasture development, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc.
Under WDC-PMKSY 1.0 (projects sanctioned between 2009-10 to 2014-15), DoLR
supported implementation of 6382 watershed projects covering an area of 29.59 million hectare
in 27 States and UTs of J&K and Ladakh and Central share of Rs. 19,926.67 crore was released
to the States/UTs. Between 2014-15 to 2021-22, about 7.64 lakh water harvesting structures were
created / rejuvenated, an additional area of about 16.40 lakh ha was brought under protective
irrigation and 36.34 Lakh farmers were benefitted. In addition to this, 3.36 lakh ha of culturable
wasteland has been treated from 2018-19 to 2021-22. The period of WDC-PMKSY 1.0 projects
got over in March, 2022.
On 15th December 2021, Government of India approved continuation of programme as
WDC-PMKSY 2.0 for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, DoLR has
sanctioned 1220 watershed development projects covering an area of 52.95 lakh ha to 28 States
and UTs of J&K and Ladakh at a total cost of Rs.12972.85 crore (Central share: Rs.8487.96
crore). The cost norms for watershed projects are Rs.22,000/ ha for plain areas, Rs.28,000/ha for
hilly / difficult areas and upto Rs.28000/ha for Left Wing Extremism Affected /Integrated Action
Plan Districts. So far, Central share of Rs.5152 crore has been released to the States/ UTs.
Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, from 2022-23 to 2024-25 about 1.35 lakh water harvesting
structures have been created / rejuvenated, an additional area of about 1.90 lakh ha has been
brought under protective irrigation, 6.76 lakh hectare of degraded /rainfed area has been
developed and 13.42 lakh farmers have benefitted.
Further, about 1.18 Lakh SHGs have been formed in the watershed project areas and supported
with revolving funds of around Rs.523 crore.
(c) Trainings on Natural Resource Management techniques and adoption of improvised
Production Systems are held for watershed communities at regular intervals.
(d) The Department of Land Resources in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing
Centre (NRSC) has brought out the 'Wasteland Atlas- 2019' with robust geospatial information.
The Atlas aims at articulation of the spatial change of different wasteland categories that
happened between 2008-09 and 2015-16 in the country, at 1:50,000 scale.
(e) The Department is promoting use of Geographical Information System (GIS) & Remote
Sensing (RS) technologies in planning, execution and monitoring of watershed development
projects under WDC-PMKSY 2.0. Further, Land Resource Inventerization (LRI) based
watershed management is being practiced in selected project areas on pilot basis.
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