C. Integrated Watershed Development Programme

Recognising the vital role that water plays in the rural economy, ITC promotes watershed projects in water-stressed areas, providing precious water resources for agriculture, rural communities and livestock. Based on a participatory approach, the programme facilitates building, reviving and maintaining water harvesting structures as well as management of water resources to reverse land degradation, provide critical irrigation and increase agricultural productivity.

The work under this initiative has spread from 5 projects in two states, to 26 projects in 7 states.

In addition to water user charges as a source of revenue, efforts were also made to link the Water User Groups to market-based activities with a view to enhance earnings. These included activities like agri-input sales, procurement of spices and raw material for organic fertilisers.

In another first of its kind agreement in the country, ITC signed a MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to implement NREGA in 2 blocks of Jalna district on an integrated watershed development basis covering 50 gram panchayats.

It is estimated that the project will generate 8 lakh mandays of employment per year. In the last 3 months of 2008-09, 43 villages were covered under this programme, with work worth Rs. 50.20 lakhs, covering 1,216 hectares, benefiting 1,139 households.

The Ranjangaon area in Pune district was under severe drought during this Kharif season. With virtually no rains in the project area, farmers and cattle were adversely affected. ITC’s watershed development works became the only source of livelihood for more than 350 farmers who participated daily in the work and treated 281 hectares against a target of 130 hectares.