WEST BENGAL

WEST BENGAL

Land use pattern of West Bengal (2005-06)

Sl. No Land Use patternArea in

hectares

1 Area not available for cultivation 17,53,328

2 Other uncultivated land excluding current fallows 1,40,701

3 Area under forest 11,74,977

4 Current fallows 3,19,246

5 Net cropped / sown area 52,94,702

6 Gross cropped area 95,32,607

7 Reporting area (excluding Kolkata) 86,82,954

8 Total geographical area 88,75,200

# -

RIVER CATCHMENT WISE DISTRIBUTION

As per District Census Hand Book, 2001, the cultivable wastelands of each district of West Bengal is furnished below :

Sl. No. District NameTotal Geographical

Area (in Ha.)Cultivable Wasteland

(Area in hectares)

1 Purulia 614447.4 75217.7

2 Bankura 681215.3 42849.4

3 Purba Medinipore 379920.2 19449.7

4 Paschim Medinipore 882929.0 47678.8

5 Birbhum 449363.1 26351.5

6 Burdwan 623567.3 18004.7

7 North 24-Parganas 348513.0 14273.6

8 South 24-Parganas 536441.5 11401.4

9 Howrah 117206.0 4608.1

10 Hooghly 293872.0 8260.5

11 Malda 365048.7 9726.0

12 Uttar Dinajpur 307476.3 8842.8

13 Dakshin Dinajpur 222807.7 8964.7

14 Nadia 373414.4 7662.7

15 Murshidabad 522223.1 15484.2

16 Darjeeling 320460.7 30164.1

17 Jalpaiguri 594252.3 33475.0

18 Coochbehar 334699.9 15608.3

TOTAL 79,67,857.9 3,98,023.2

DEGRADED LANDS OF WEST BENGAL

Sl. No.Particulars / Type of land /

degraded lands

Area in Hectares Area in Hectares

Total Area / Forest lands

Degraded Land

1Total Geographical area of West Bengal

88,75,200 -

2 Area under Forest 11,87,900 -

3 Degraded lands in non-forest areas - -

(a)Sheet, Rill & Gullied Area (major area as cultivable wasteland)

- 6,66,000

(b)Water logged (a portion as cultivable wasteland)

- 5,76,000

(c) Saline / Saline alkali - 8,20,450

(d) Mining - 14,500

(e) Land slip, land slide - 35,000

(f) Sea coastal - 12,000

(g)Stream bank erosion & sand laden area

- 67,350

TOTAL 21,91,300

Agro-Climatic Regions of West Bengal

There are Six Agro-Climatic Regions in West Bengal

• Northern Hilly Region• Teesta-Terai Region• Gangetic Flood Plain Region• Vindhya Old Alluvial Region• Undulating lateritic Region• Coastal Flood Plain Region

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES TAKEN UP UNDER WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

• Area Development – Cultivable wastelands are developed to arable lands through bunding, levelling, bench terracing etc.

• Water Resources Development – Excavation / re-excavation of farm ponds, water harvesting structures, surface water bodies etc.

• Removal drainage congestion – To remove inundation in the coastal saline zone during rainy season to allow cultivation HYV instead of local.

• Plantation – Saplings of mango, guava, lemon and forest species are planted on the wastelands.

TYPE OF ACTIVITIES TAKENUP FOR WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UNDER NWDPRA AND RVP & FPR

• Formation of Self Help Groups / User Groups • Formation of Watershed Association • Formation Watershed Committee • Registration of Watershed Association under the societies

registration act. • Opening of Bank Accounts of Watershed Association • Capacity Building of Watershed Development Team, SHGs / UGs

and Watershed Committee members • Opening of Bank Accounts of SHGs / UGs; • Transfer of project fund to the bank account of Watershed

Association;• Preparation of annual action plan / strategic plan ; • Execution of schemes by the Watershed Association on Natural

Resource Management, Farm Production System, Livelihood Support System etc.

Progress towards implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Programme ( IWMP ) under SLNA

• SLNA has been formed on 1st January, 2010.• The 1st meeting of SLNA will be held on 1st June, 2010.• The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of SLNA from a serving Govt. Officer is being done.• Engagement of Technical Experts and other supporting officials will be completed within June, 2010.• The process for opening of an independent savings bank account is under active consideration of the State Government.

Implementation of Watershed Development Projects in West Bengal

Sl. No.

Name of the Scheme / Programme

Nodal Department of Government of

West Bengal

No. of Watershed

Projects

1

National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas ( NWDPRA )

Agriculture Department 48

2 River Valley Project & Flood Prone Rivers ( RVP & FPR ) Agriculture Department 22

3Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP)

Panchayat & Rural Dev. Department 28

4Draught Prone Area Programme ( DPAP )

Panchayat & Rural Dev. Department 304

T O T A L 402

POINTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKSHOP TO BE HELD ON 20-21 MAY, 2010 AT NASC COMPLEX, PUSA, NEW DELHI.

• Planning for projects to be taken up under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme during 2010-11 and the PPRs of the same -

• The first meeting of SLNA of West Bengal will be held on 1st June, 2010 at Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata. Initiatives are being taken for deployment of the Chief Executive Officer of SLNA from serving Government Officers on deputation and opening of its savings bank accounts. After completing the appointment of Technical Experts and supporting officials either by serving Government officials on deputation or else retired Government officials on contract basis, projects for watershed development under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) will be prepared and placed to the SLNA for approval. The implementation of the project will be started during 2010-11, immediately after obtaining approval from the SLNA and funds are released to the respective implementing authorities. Preparation of Perspective Project Report (PPR) for the entire State for implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) will be taken up simultaneously

Success stories / best practices under IWDP / DPAP –

• In the West Bengal State, the IWDP and DPAP programmes are being implemented by the Panchayat & Rural Development Department. Two success stories have been received from the Panchayat & Rural Development Department which are being displayed here.

1. Status of outstanding UCs for funds released upto 31.03.2009 under IWDP / DPAP as they have become due on 31.03.2010.

The status of outstanding UCs as on 31.03.2009, as reported by the Panchayat & Rural Development Department are as follows :

ProgrammeDistrict

Outstanding UCs as on 31.03.2009

I W D P

Bankura Nil

Birbhum Nil

Burdwan Nil

Paschim Medinipur Project - I

Programme DistrictOutstanding UCs as on 31.03.2009

D P A P

Bankura Nil

Paschim Medinipur Hariyali - II, III & IV

Birbhum Hariyali - I & IV

Purulia Hariyali - II & IV

2. Status of programme wise unspent balance as on 01.04.2010.

The status of programme-wise unspent balance as on 01.04.2010, as reported by the Panchayat & Rural Development Department are as follows :

ProgrammeDistrict

Unspent Balanceas on 01.04.2010

I W D P

Bankura 68.95

Birbhum 529.66

Burdwan 399.493

Paschim Medinipur 97.674

TOTAL 1095.777

Programme DistrictUnspent Balanceas on 01.04.2010

D P A P

Bankura 111.45

Paschim Medinipur 165.799

Birbhum 8.2

Purulia 719.42

TOTAL 1004.869

SUCCESS STORIES – WEST BENGAL • PROVIDING LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT

THROUGH IWDP.• Project-IV is being implemented in

Ausgram-I Panchayat Samity of Burdwan district since 2006.

• While all out efforts are being made to harvest every drop of water, at the same time efforts are being made to extend livelihood support to the farmers of the area.

• Department of Sericulture, Government of West Bengal came up with technological support. As cultivation of field crop is very difficult due to scarcity of water and arable land, plantation of arjun was taken up on a piece of land measuring around 5 ha. These plants will harbour tasar silk moth and the farmers will fetch a good harvest without any financial involvement. An SHG with women members from BPL families [ Alo mahila Dal] were tagged with the project to up keep the project and get the benefit out of the same. Within two years the project will be self sustaining.

A SUCESS STORY OF CONVERGENCE WITH IWDP• Project-III under IWDP is being implemented in

Ausgram-II Panchayat Samity of Burdwan district since 2004. The treatable area is completely lateritic with rock strata in the shallow sub surface. As a result the water holding capacity of soil of that area ia very low. It is very difficult to sustain plants planted in agro forestry or social forestry.

• To increase availability of water in both surface and sub surface, a number of Water Harvesting Structures have been created in the project area. But that was not sufficient. Due to high gradient of land surface in the area whatever little amount of water reaches in the subsurface area , get quickly percolated. Further, the precipitation received drains out very fast in the common drainge line.

• To check this loss of precious water, help from State Water Investigation Directorate was solicited. After detail study of the nature of the topography and soil, they planned to build a series of check dams [ both RCC and morrum filled bags across the main drainage line at an estimated cost of 20.8 lakh rupees.

• Construction is now complete and the stakeholders are waiting for reaping the benefit of those check dams during ensuing rainy season

Type of activities done under NWDPRA

General Meeting of Watershed Community

Group formation – Self Help Groups (SHG) - having land up to one acre;User Groups (UG) – having land more than one acre.

Training Programme under NWDPRA at Bhatibari watershed, Alipurduar,

Jalpaiguri

Training Programme under NWDPRA at BD-11 watershed, Bankura

Entry Point Activity – Passenger shed at Bus Stop at Rd3d A/2 watershed, Chandrakona-II, Paschim Medinipur under NWDPRA

Entry Point Activity (EPA) – Construction of Urinal in a school at Bankura-II Block

under NWDPRA

Entry Point Activity (EPA) - Distribution of Hand Sprayer under NWDPRA at Batabari watershed, Meteli Block,

Jalpaiguri.

Entry Point Activity (EPA) – Sanitation programme under NWDPRA at Sumatinagar watershed, Sagar Block, South

24-Parganas.

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Field Bunding in the field of Sri Subhamoy Chowdhury of

BD-11 watershed, Bankura-I under NWDPRA

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Construction of Periphery bund at Bhatibari watershed, Alipurduar,

Jalpaiguri

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Excavation of Sweet Water Reservoir (for fisheries & irrigation purposes) under NWDPRA at

Gabberia Watershed, Mandirbazar Block, South 24-Parganas.

Natural Resource Management (NRM) - Water Harvesting Structure under NWDPRA at Dhupjhora Watershed, Meteli

Block, Jalpaiguri

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Excavation of Water Harvesting Structure for fisheries and irrigation

purposes under NWDPRA at Bankura

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Excavation of Jute Rating Tank at Batabari watershed, Meteli,

Jalpaiguri

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Construction of a Culvert with water passage at Daikhata watershed, Jalpaiguri Block.

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Construction of Drop Spill Way at Dhupjhora watershed, Meteli Block,

Jalpaiguri

Natural Resource Management (NRM) – Loose Boulder Checks under NWDPRA at Bankura

Farm Production System (FPS) – Demonstration of Maize by User Group member under NWDPRA

Farm Production System (FPS) – Vegetable Cultivation by User Group members under NWDPRA

Farm Production System (FPS) – Demonstration of Wheat in the fields of User Group at Bankura

Farm Production System (FPS) – Demonstration of Scented Rice (Pusa Basmati-I) in the fields of User Group at Bankura

Farm Production System (FPS) – Cultivation of Betel vine at Sumatinagar watershed at Sagar Block, South 24-Parganas

Livelihood Support System (LSS) - Punchra watershed, Barabani Block, Burdwan

Livelihood Support System (LSS) – Training on Sewing Machine to SHG members

Livelihood Support System (LSS) - Fish Food & Fertilizer Shop – Loan taken by a member of Self Help Group from revolving fund under

NWDPRA

Livelihood Support System (LSS) - SHG at Gabberia watershed under NWDPRA, (Loan from Revolving Fund) Mandirbazar Block, South 24-

Parganas

Livelihood Support System (LSS) - Goat rearing by SHG members under NWDPRA for supplemental income

Livelihood Support System (LSS) - SHG at Gabberia watershed under NWDPRA, (Loan from Revolving Fund) Mandirbazar Block, South 24-

Parganas

Source of Cow dung at Sumatinagar watershed, Sagar Block, South 24-Parganas

Pucca Compost Pits under NWDPRA

Construction of Vermi Compost Pit under NWDPRA