Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the progress of the watershed development component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC‑PMKSY) on Monday in New Delhi, urging state governments to accelerate project implementation and deliver measurable outcomes on the ground.
Chouhan highlighted watershed development as a critical tool for achieving a “drought‑free India” and emphasized that its purpose extends beyond constructing water structures. The programme aims to bring water directly to farms, boost land productivity and strengthen farmers’ incomes and livelihoods.
Under WDC‑PMKSY 2.0, 1,220 projects covering 52.93 lakh hectares have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 12,404 crore, including a central share of Rs 8,134 crore, of which 85 per cent (Rs 6,955.75 crore) has been released. The ministry reports the construction or revival of 1.24 lakh water‑harvesting structures such as check dams, percolation tanks and ponds, providing protective irrigation to an additional 3.08 lakh hectares. About 28.5 lakh farmers have benefited, horticulture and high‑value crops have expanded, and the scheme has generated 2.85 crore person‑days of employment.
Chouhan called on states and implementing agencies to adopt transparent, technology‑enabled, performance‑based and people‑centric approaches, completing projects within stipulated timelines. He urged that assessments focus on tangible improvements in land development, water availability, irrigation and cropping intensity rather than merely on expenditure. The minister also referenced the ‘Watershed Yatra’ and ‘Watershed Mahotsav’ as efforts to turn watershed development into a national movement for water security, agricultural stability and rural prosperity.
