Watershed Management basically refers to efficient management and conservation of surface and groundwater resources. Programmes: The central and state governments have initiated many watershed development and management programmes in the country.
(i) Haryali: It is a watershed development project sponsored by the central government which aim at enabling the rural population to conserve water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries and afforestation. It is being executed by Gram Panchayats with people participation.
(ii) Neeru-Meeru (Water and you) programme in Andhra Pradesh and Arvary Pani Sansad in (Alwar-Rajasthan). These have taken up constructions of various waterharvesting structures—percolation tanks, dug out ponds, check dams through people participation.
(iii) Tamil Nadu has made water harvesting structures in the houses compulsory. No building can be constructed without making structure for water harvesting.
(iv) Watershed development projects in some areas have been successful in rejuvenating environment and economy. In majority of cases, the programme is still in its nascent stage. There is a need to generate awareness regarding benefits of watershed development and management among the people.
