Government of Karnataka signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ITC to execute a Watershed Programme covering over one million acres in the southern state. The Programme will be in effect for 3 years.
- The MoU was signed under the ITC’s Social Investments programme ‘‘Mission Sunehra Kal” & the Karnataka Watershed Development Department.With regard to this MoU, 100 Watershed had set up.
Key Points:
i.The agreement was a part of the Karnataka government’s ‘Watershed development for drought proofing’ programme & it is a part of ITCs Sustainability 2.0 agenda.
ii.It aims at covering 1.16 million acres of watershed area in 29 districts.
Operations to be Executed:
i.ITC will employ group of experts to train teams on its drought-proofing framework for planning, implementation and monitoring of watershed programme.
Formation of Committee:
i.New Project Management Committee to oversee the functioning of the project will be formed with the Commissioner of the Watershed Development Department as Chairperson (Currently – Dr. M.V. Venkatesh, IAS )and ITC as Convenor.
Benefit of the Partnership:
i.It will promote water use efficiency in agriculture has led to water savings of 20-45 per cent in crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane and banana.
ii.This partnership was aligned with central government’s initiative like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and More-Crop-Per-Drop.
About Karnataka:
National Parks – Bannerghatta National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kudremukh National Park.
Lake – Hirekolale Lake, Ayyanakere Lake, Honnamana Kere Lake.
