National body to address water woes

Jal Swaraj will be on the lines of the National Dairy Development Board.

The government is planning to set up a National Rainfed Area Authority for solving problems of farmers in dryland areas by addressing their drinking and irrigation water needs.

Seen as an attempt to achieve "Jal Swaraj", the authority will be on the lines of the National Dairy Development Board and will be under the control of the prime minister's office. The Planning Commission has formulated the proposal under the chairmanship of MS Swaminathan.

"The authority is being planned to promote a farming system approach to promote water harvesting, conservation and sustainable and equitable use of rainwater. The authority will provide livelihood security to rural communities and ensure the productivity of crop and animal husbandry, forestry and fisheries," a government official told Business Standard.

A paper may shortly be put forward for consideration of the Prime Minister's Agriculture Coordinating Committee for the approval of the structure and the mandate of the authority. NRAA will have four dimensions "" agro-ecological regions, gram panchayat, gram sabha and the state governments.

The NRAA will start its work by setting up pilot projects in large areas (200,000 hectares or more) during the approaching southwest monsoon period.

"Co-ordination of different ministerial programmes at district levels presents serious difficulties and hence the need for a central authority will be filled by NRAA," the official added.

The NRAA's mandate includes helping farm families to achieve income and work security through promoting a farming system approach to land and water use, involving crop-livestock integration as well as agro-forestry systems. An inter-ministerial support group may be formed to assist NRAA in this task.

"An important area of concern will be the establishment of linkages between forest and non-forest land in water shed," the official said.

The NRAA will establish a land use advisory service on the lines of the one recommended by the National Commission on farmers to provide advice to farmers, based on an integrated analysis of ecological, meteorological and marketing factors.

"Gram Sabhas may serve as Pani Panchayats in matters relating to harvesting and sustainable and equitable use of rainwater," official added.