Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that World Bank has in principle agreed to continue engagement in watershed sector in the state of Himachal Pradesh for additional financing proposal of Himachal Pradesh Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project in the order of around US$ 37 Million equivalent to Rs. 231.25 crore. The task team of the bank has been authorized to go ahead with the preparation process with project counterparts and Department of Economic Affairs for the next steps. The appraisal mission is likely to visit the state in early June as part of preparation process, he added.
Chief Minister said that overall goal of the project is to reverse the process of degradation of the natural resource base and improve the productive potential of natural resources and incomes of the rural households in the project area in Himachal Pradesh using the Community-driven Development approach.
Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the focus of the additional financing proposal will be on water harvesting to increase potential area under irrigation for diversification of agriculture and horticulture besides soil and water conservation. The project shall now cover 704 Gram Panchayats located in 43 blocks spread over in 10 districts in Mid Hill regions of the state.
