Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Tuesday approved the Annual Action Plan for 2026–27 for watershed development with a proposed outlay exceeding Rs 102 crore, with focus on sustainable natural resource management, livelihood generation, capacity building and climate-resilient agriculture. Kota also approved the incentive framework under the Watershed Janbhagidari initiative to recognise high-performing watershed projects and encourage greater community participation and ownership. The approvals were given during the State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) meeting held under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) to review implementation progress, approve key proposals and chart the roadmap for the next phase of watershed development in Assam.
Kota reviewed the status of 38 watershed projects with a total outlay of Rs 371.36 crore, of which Rs 273.03 crore (74 percent) has been utilised. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary noted that four projects have already been completed, while a majority have achieved over 80 percent financial progress. The WDC-PMKSY programme has delivered significant outcomes in natural resource management and rural livelihoods. These include the treatment of over 14,750 hectares under soil and moisture conservation; development of more than 50,257 hectares of degraded and rainfed land; creation and renovation of over 1,099 water harvesting structures; expansion of protective irrigation coverage and direct benefits to over 1.7 lakh farmers across project areas.
The meeting deliberated on preparatory measures for WDC-PMKSY 3.0, including DPR formulation through ASSAC, convergence with line departments and strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The Chief secretary further reviewed cluster-based agriculture initiatives across multiple districts aimed at crop diversification, irrigation support and enhancement of farmer incomes through convergence with the agriculture department and allied sectors. He emphasised the need for timely fund utilisation, robust monitoring, outcome-oriented implementation and stronger field-level coordination to maximise impact at the grassroots level and ensure long-term sustainability of watershed assets.
