In response to a question by MLA Sham Lal Sharma regarding the funding of Water Harvesting Schemes, including plantations and check dams, the government informed the Assembly that the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), now a component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), aims to restore ecological balance by harnessing, conserving, and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, water, and vegetation. It also focuses on sustainable rural livelihoods through water harvesting structures like check dams, percolation tanks, and afforestation.
Till 2019, the funding for the scheme was shared between the Government of India (GoI) and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in a 90:10 ratio, with the Central Government contributing 90% of the project cost and the UT Government covering 10%. However, from 2019 onwards, the scheme has been fully funded by the Central Government with 100% central assistance.
Under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 1.0), a total of 144 projects were sanctioned for Jammu & Kashmir in four batches between 2021-22. Of these, 119 projects were completed in 2021-22, while 25 projects were de-linked from central assistance in 2018.
A total of ₹365.67 crore was released by GoI and the J&K government, out of which ₹346.38 crore was utilized for the treatment of 230,924 hectares of land through 15,874 works. Under the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY 2.0, 19 projects were sanctioned for Jammu & Kashmir from 2021-22 onward. Till date, ₹85.19 crore has been released by GoI, out of which ₹75 crore has been utilized for the treatment of 26,795 hectares of land through 2,137 works and 5,54,690 plantation activities. The government assured that these initiatives continue to support water conservation, improve irrigation facilities, and enhance sustainable agricultural practices across Jammu & Kashmir.
