Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Mr Lal Singh today called for revamping the World Bank aided Integrated Watershed Development Project (IWDP).Taking stock of the project, the Minister directed officials to infuse new vigor into the project. He asked officials to work in close coordination and come up with innovative ideas to revamp the project.The Minister was informed that because of the environmental degradation IWDP was launched in three sub-watershed, Devak and Ramkote Shivalik region of Jammu and Dudhganga in Karewa region of Kashmir province. The IWDP Phase-I was conceived in 1990 for a period of seven years with the World Bank assistance of US$18.57 million with the closing date 30th of June 1997, and it was accorded extension for two year including 1997-98 and 1998-1999.
The Minister was also informed that IWDP Hills-II was covered under the Social Sector funding of the World Bank. The officials briefed the Minister that this was directly linked with the poverty alleviation core theme which was developed into a multi-sectoral programming resulting into empowerment of people through participatory mechanism. They said that the project is carried out as per the agreement between the World Bank, Government of India and the Government of J&K. They also said that Supervision Mission have appreciated the difficulties faced by the PIA in extreme conditions.Earlier the Minister visited all the rooms of the IWDP office in Rajbagh and directed officials to maintain the office and records.