Role of Integrated Watershed Management Programme in controlling erosion and reclaming wastelands in India
India has about 55.27 million hectares (m ha) of wasteland. These are not suitable for any purpose and are exposed to the vagaries of nature like weathering, gully erosion, etc. The Department of Land Resources of the Ministry of Rural Development has been implementing three area development programmes since 1995, viz. Integrated Watershed Development Programme, Drought Prone Areas Programme and Desert Development Programme on watershed basis. (Correspondence)