DEPARTMENT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

           The main objective of the department is to conserve Soil and Water and maintainence of Ecological Balance, Development of Community Assets, Bio-diversity, Financial Empowerment among rural community are the other objectives. 

         The department consists of 3 Sectors viz., Agriculture, Horticulture and Forest.  Agriculture Sector takes Farm Pond, Trenching, Contour Bunding, Nala Revetment etc., in Arable Lands. Diversion Channel, Rubble Check, Boulder Check, Rock Filled Dam, Check Dam, Nala Bunds are being taken up in the Non Arable Lands. In  Drainage Line  Check Dam and Vented Check Dams are being taken, apart from these programmes the Department of Watershed Development undertakes desilting of small tanks (Gokattes).  To restore water and utilization excavated soil as silt which used for cultivation and it improves physical properties of soils.   

Forest Sector of the department raises plantation in Government / Community Lands, besides this, the department also takes Avenue Plantations, Pit Plantations, Trench Mount Plantations etc., Agro-Forestry works are also being taken in farmers land.  Now the department is established the raising of Forest Seedlings without depending on other agency.

The Horticulture Sector distributes several types of horticulture seedlings / gragts among farmers, so as to get addition remuneration.  Now the farmer’s also inclination for changing their agricultural crops to horticulture crops to get additional income.

II) Schemes Implementation

1) Sampoorna Gramina Rojagar Yojana:

          The main aim of this scheme is to engage the Agricultural labours and providing wokrs for the food and Creation of assets in the rural area. Hence, the employment generation are the other aims of this scheme.  6 kgs. of foodgrains and Rs.15/- cash is being distributed per manday. In all the 7 taluks S.G.R.Y. programme is being implemented and which is not implementing on watershed basis.

2) Drought Prone Area Programme.

          Chickmagalur, Mudigere, Kadur, Tarikere, Koppa, Sringeri are the  Drought Prone taluks in this district. Solvation of drinking water problem,  Improvement of crop productivity status, ground water recharge, control of Soil Erosion etc. are the important aims in this programme.  Farm Pond, Trenching, Vented Check Dam, Desilting of small tanks, Nala revetment, Raising of plantations, Agro forestry, Dry land Horticulture etc., are watershed programmes.  117 micro watersheds are identified in this programme.  Formation of watershed committees and collection of contribution for works are the special features of this scheme.  In case of individual benefits the contribution is 10 %, where as 5 % in case of community works & SC/ST beneficiaries. The programme is implementing in association with Gram Panchayats. The selection of beneficiaries will be done in Gramasabha and the decision of Gramasabha is final. 

3) Westren Ghat Development Programme.

         The overall improvement of Western Ghats is the main objective under this programme. The scheme is implementing in Chickmagalur, Mudigere, Koppa, Sringeri and Tarikere taluks. To maintain the bio-diversity of these areas all the three sectors will co-ordinate and implemement the following works.  Farm Pond, Trenching, Vented Check Dam, Desilting of small tanks, Nala revetment, Raising of plantations, Agro forestry, Dry land Horticulture etc.  26 micro watersheds are identified in this programme.  Formation of watershed committees and collection of contribution for works are the special features of this scheme. In case of individual benefits the contribution is 10 %, where as 5 % in case of community works & SC/ST beneficiaries. The programme is implementing in association with Gram Panchayats. The selection of beneficiaries will be done in Gramasabha and the decision of Gramasabha is final. 

4) Integrated Waste Land Development Programme

          Treatment of Waste Lands is the main objective under this programme.  Non-DPAP taluk i.e., N.R. Pura taluk is selected for this scheme.  Farm Pond, Trenching, Vented Check Dam, Desilting of small tanks, Nala revetment, Raising of plantations, Agro forestry, Fodder Development, Dry land Horticulture etc., are the watershed programme. 10 micro watersheds are identified in this programme.  Formation of watershed committees and collection of contribution for works are the special features of this scheme.  In case of individual benefits the contribution is 10 %, where as 5 % in case of community works & SC/ST beneficiaries. The programme is implementing in association with Gram Panchayats. The selection of beneficiaries will be done in Gramasabha and the decision of Gramasabha is final. 

5) National Watershed Development Programme

          21 watersheds are identified in all the 7 taluks of the district. Farm Pond, Trenching, Vented Check Dam, Desilting of small tanks, Nala revetment, Raising of plantations, Agro forestry, Fodder Development, Dry land Horticulture etc., are the watershed programmes. 10 micro watersheds are identified in this programme.  Formation of watershed committees and collection of contribution for works are the special features of this scheme.  In case of individual benefits the contribution is 10 %, where as 5 % in case of community works & SC/ST beneficiaries. The programme is implementing in association with Gram Panchayats. The selection of beneficiaries will be done in Gramasabha and the decision of Gramasabha is final. 

6) River Valley Project

One each watershed is identified in Chikmagalur and Tarikere in the basin of Nagarjunasagar so as to prevent soil erosion.  This scheme being  implemented with an objective of avoiding silt up of reservoirs.

III) Criteria for the selection of beneficiaries.

1)     Small and marginal farmers will be preferred.

2)      Preference will be given to sc/st, minorities and women beneficiaries

3)      Since the dept. is concentrating on land based activities beneficiary should have the land.

4)      The interested beneficiaries must apply to the concerned Gram Panchayat to have the benefits. Beneficiaries   will be selected in the Gram Sabha.  However, the department verifies the technical suitability before taking the works.

5)      The beneficiaries must maintain the assests created, and they must contribute to the  funds as corpus fund  either in the form of material or by cash. 

6)      No new borewells and no free grazing are permitted, in the watershed programme

7)     SHG and UGs are to be organized among the villagers.

IV) Formats prescribed to have the benefits.

1)     The applicants may write an application on a white paper with RTC to the concerned Gram Pahchayat.

2)     Beneficiaries will be selected on the availability of funds

For Details Contact :-

District Watershed Development Officer,

1 st Floor,o/o Zilla Panchayath,

Chickmagalur.

Phone 08262 220847, 08262 221239