Drought Prone Areas Programe

Objective

The basic objective of the programme is to minimise the adverse effects of drought on production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources ultimately leading to drought proofing of the affected areas. The programme also aims to promote overall economic development and improving the socio-economic conditions of the resource poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the programme areas.

Coverage:

Upto 1994-95, DPAP was in operation in 627 blocks of 96 districts in 13 States. Prof. C.H. Hanumanntha Rao Committee recommended: - Exclusion of 245 existing blocks; - Including of 384 new blocks; and - Transfer of 64 blocks from DPAP to DDP. The Government did not agreed for exclusion of existing DDP blocks. However, inclusion of new blocks and transfer of blocks from DPAP to DDP was agreed to. Thus, from 1995-96 total blocks covered under DPAP became 947. These 947 blocks were in 164 districts in 13 States. Subsequently, with the re-organization of States, Districts and Blocks, the programme is now covered in 972 blocks of 183 districts in 16 States. These States are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uittar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and West Bengal. The identified dry sub humid area under the programme is about 7.46 lakh sq. kms (74.6 million has.)

Cost, Funding Pattern and duration of the project

The prevailing cost for a prescribed watershed project of 500 ha. is Rs. 30.00 lakh i.e. Rs. 6,000 per hectare. Central and State Government in the ratio of 75 : 25 share the cost. 80% (85% under Hariyali) of the cost is devoted towards watershed development activities and rest 20% (15% under Hariyali) for community organization, training and administrative jobs. The central share is released in 7 instalments ( 5 insts. under Hariyali) by following a prescribed procedure. The project is to be completed over a period of five years.

[ From inception till March 1999, the programme allocation was being shared on 50:50 basis between the Centre and the State Governments. This was revised to 75:25 with effect from the projects sanctioned from 1.4.1999 onwards In respect of ongoing projects that were sanctioned prior to April 1999, the old funding pattern continues. Prior to 1.4.2001, the cost of treatment ranged between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 per hectare. Effective from 1.4.2001, a uniform rate of treatment @ Rs.6000 per hectare has been prescribed.]