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Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

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<strong>Revitalization</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> In <strong>India</strong><br />

<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Recommendation<br />

The state <strong>of</strong> Gujarat <strong>in</strong>volves PRIs at all levels for the implementation <strong>of</strong><br />

watershed projects. Members <strong>of</strong> PRIs are tra<strong>in</strong>ed on watershed development and<br />

are <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> select<strong>in</strong>g beneficiaries, plann<strong>in</strong>g, implement<strong>in</strong>g, spend<strong>in</strong>g funds,<br />

and monitor<strong>in</strong>g (TARU, 2011a). In West Bengal, funds for watershed development<br />

are routed through the Gram Panchayat. The head <strong>of</strong> the Gram Panchayat, the<br />

Pradhan, is a member <strong>of</strong> the Village Watershed Committee, thereby ensur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

l<strong>in</strong>kage between the Panchayat and the Watershed Committee. The Gram<br />

Panchayat ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s assets created by the watershed development project and<br />

charges users (TARU, 2011b).<br />

There are examples <strong>in</strong> Maharashtra <strong>of</strong> Gram Panchayats undertak<strong>in</strong>g social<br />

forestry and tree plant<strong>in</strong>g (Box 2).<br />

BOX 2: Natural resource management by Panchayats <strong>in</strong> Kolhapur and<br />

Nandurbar districts, Maharashtra<br />

In Kolhapur district <strong>of</strong> Maharashtra, Panchayats have engaged <strong>in</strong> tree<br />

plantation drives and watershed development. Forest protection and<br />

conservation committees have been formed <strong>in</strong> villages. Jambur Gram<br />

Panchayat, for example, has worked on soil and water conservation, and<br />

planted trees. It has also adopted a resolution bann<strong>in</strong>g cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> trees and free<br />

graz<strong>in</strong>g. In Nandurbar district, Panchayats have planted a million trees and are<br />

implement<strong>in</strong>g watershed development projects. Soute and Padvalwadi Gram<br />

Panchayats are tak<strong>in</strong>g steps to stop land degradation and cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> trees.<br />

Source: SOPPECOM, 2011.<br />

Annexures<br />

489

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