| Chief Minister N D Tiwari today launched the Rs 405-crore Uttaranchal Decentralized Watershed Development Project. The World Bank-funded project is aimed at enhancing the income of the local population and increasing productivity in the state. |
| The seven-year project would cover 19 development blocks in 10 districts including Dehra Dun, Forest and Watershed Management Secretary B P Pandey said. |
| It will be implemented in about 1,200 revenue villages of 450 gram panchayats. Of the Rs 405 crore, the World Bank will contribute Rs 315 crore for the project and the rest will come from the state government and local communities. |
| The project will be implemented in three phases. The first phase would last a year, during which planning and capacity building would be undertaken, Pandey said. |
| Speaking on the occasion, Tiwari said the main objectives of the project were to increase productivity of farming systems, livestock and pastures, create more and better opportunities, and enhance the income of the people along with the development and maintenance of natural resources through gram panchayats. |
| "This project will be implemented through the gram panchayats. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that gram panchayats will be free to plan for their areas, and choose the best options to implement them," Tiwari said. |
| The project would be implemented on priority in those areas of the middle Himalayas where natural resources had faced maximum degradation, and where poverty was maximum, he said. World Bank representative and team leader Talib Esmail promised the state government all possible support.
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| Water plans |
What's in the offing
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Uttaranchal water project launched
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First Published: Oct 15 2004 | 12:00 AM IST
