Perspective Plan of Watershed Management of Himalayan Region

Watershed Management as an integrated multidisciplinary task covering works of Forestry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Minor Irrigation, Soil Conservation and Energy Conservation, is the right approach for conserving Himalayan eco-system and checking its bio-degradation. For it, proper data base be generated by collecting field information in an all India standardised format for the whole of the Himalayan region. The data collection and project formulation works are estimated to cost Rs.12 crores. The estimated cost for executing the watershed management works in the whole hill region of India covering 12 States would be of the order or Rs.1900 crore for a five year plan period, extending over five FYPs, @ 2200 Rs./ha hased on a few case studies. These works will not only conserve Himalayas but will bring multi-farious benefits to local and down-stream communities.