भूमि संसाधन विभाग Department of 
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE
The Project Development Objective (PDO) of Neeranchal is to support WDC-PMKSY through technical assistance to improve incremental conservation outcomes and agricultural yields for communities in selected sites, and adoption of more effective processes and technologies into the broader PMKSY in participating states.
Project Financing
The total project cost is USD 357.0 million. The project will be financed through Investment Project Financing (IPF) at a 50/50 cost-sharing ratio, with USD178.5 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing, and an equivalent from GoI (in Indian rupees) of USD178.5 million, outside of WDC-PMKSY.
| Components | (INR Crore) | (USD Million) | % of Total Base Cost | ||||
| Gov’t | Bank | Total | Gov’t | Bank | Total | ||
| A. Central Institution and Capacity Building | 34.0 | 34.0 | 68.1 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 11.4 | 3.2 |
| B. National Innovation Support | 90.6 | 90.6 | 181.2 | 15.1 | 15.1 | 30.2 | 8.5 |
| C. Support to IWMP in Participating States | 910.9 | 910.9 | 1,821.8 | 151.8 | 151.8 | 303.6 | 85.0 |
| D. Project Management and Coordination | 35.6 | 35.6 | 71.2 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 3.3 |
| Total Project Cost | 1,071.1 | 1,071.1 | 2,142.2 | 178.5 | 178.5 | 357.0 | 100.0 |
The Component 3 will be shared between Centre and State in the sharing pattern of 60:40.
Implementation period
The project will be implemented from 2016-17 to 2021-22.
Project Beneficiaries
The project will be implemented in selected sites in eight states: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. These states were selected by the DoLR based on the area of rainfed agriculture lands, poverty levels, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) being under active implementation, and willingness to participate in the project and cost-share in state level activities.
The project will contribute to enhanced watershed management activities in two districts in each participating state, covering 450 sub-watersheds, each of about 5,000 ha and reaching approximately 482,000 farmer households and 2.0 million people. The project would initially focus on 90 sub-watersheds with intensive technical assistance. After this first phase, the project would then help scale up best practices into IWMP operations in an additional 360 sub-watersheds in the eight focal states, within the original two districts per state.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project Components
Component 1. Central Institutional and Capacity Building (USD 11.4 million)
The component will strengthen institutions and human resources of key national stakeholders, particularly the DoLR, for more effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of watershed management programs. The component objectives would be addressed through four sub-components. Sub-component 1.1 (Capacity Building and Institutional Development at National Level) would support a national watershed training needs assessment and institutional and human resources review, build the capacity of DoLR for program planning, management and policy analysis, develop common training materials, coordinate and support national and international exposure visits, and provide backstopping for project states who will deliver training programs in Component 3. Sub-component 1.2 (National Information and Data Center) would establish capacity within the current DoLR structure to coordinate improved knowledge/information sharing and data base development related to watershed management. Sub-component 1.3 (Communications) would support a comprehensive communications and branding program. Sub-component 1.4 (Monitoring and Evaluation) would develop and strengthen an integrated monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system linked to a new management information system (MIS) and connecting DoLR with states for tracking the national performance of IWMP and other watershed related programs. The component will finance: consultants and implementing agencies; selected operating costs; specific trainings, workshops, and learning events; equipment; and national and international exposure visits.
Component 2. National Innovation Support (USD 30.2 million)
The component will support the application of innovative, science-based knowledge, tools, and approaches to underpin improvements to IWMP around watershed planning and implementation, agricultural intensification, climate change, rural livelihoods, and hydrology, based on identified needs of the states, communities and farmers. The component objectives would be addressed through two sub-components. Sub-component 2.1 (Agricultural Performance, Rural Livelihoods, and Climate Change Innovations) would consolidate existing knowledge and innovations and transfer them to participating project states to support farmers in achieving better agricultural performance and build better resiliency against climate change, and help more vulnerable community members improve their livelihoods. Sub-component 2.2 (Decision Support Systems and Data Bases for Hydrology and Watershed Management) would develop and pilot new decision-support systems (DSS) to support DoLR and project states to implement IWMP in a more comprehensive and scientific manner, at landscape, expanded sub-watershed, and micro-watershed levels, particularly around hydrology, and provide technical backstopping to states for data base development. The component will finance a key implementing partner (National Institute of Hydrology - NIH); major contracted implementing agencies; and other consultancies as needed.
Component 3. IWMP Implementation Support in Participating States (USD 303.6 million)
The component will provide intensive, science-based technical assistance to improve IWMP operational effectiveness, convergence/integration with other government programs, and measurable impacts on the ground in selected sites in participating states. The component objectives would be addressed through four core sub-components tied linked to IWMP operations in selected sites, and two additional pilot sub-components that could be implemented outside IWMP areas. Sub-component 3.1 (Support for Improved Program Integration in Rainfed Areas) would strengthen Geographic Information System (GIS) capability in the SLNAs, develop state-level data bases, support landscape-level catchment assessment/planning for IWMP, and strengthen community-based monitoring. Sub-component 3.2 (Institutional Strengthening) would enhance relevant capacities in participating states in the SLNAs, and at field level. Sub-component 3.3 (Adoption of R&D and Technology Transfer) would facilitate the adoption of innovations developed in Component 2 around: agriculture performance; DSS for hydrology and watershed management; climate change and risk reduction; and value addition, supply chains, extension systems, and livelihood improvement. Sub-component 3.4 (State Level Management and Coordination) would provide incremental support to SLNAs to implement Component 3 activities effectively. Sub-component 3.5 (State Specific Innovations and Pilots) would support a limited number of small-scale, state-specific innovations and piloting to address locally suitable watershed initiatives and develop knowledge for possible integration into IWMP. Sub-component 3.6 (Urban Watershed Management) would demonstrate urban watershed management in up to two small catchments in each participating state. Sub-components 3.1 to 3.4 would finance technical assistance from consultants, state institutions and other agencies; equipment; workshops, local and national training and exposure visits; and incremental staff and operating costs. Sub-components 3.5 and 3.6 would finance technical assistance from consultants, state institutions and other agencies, goods, and small-scale works to demonstrate improved soil and water conservation methods.
Component 4. Project Management and Coordination (USD 11.8 million)
The objective of Component 4 is to ensure effective and responsive project management to successfully implement the Neeranchal project. The component would finance: minor upgrading of the Neeranchal Project Implementation Unit (PIU) office; specialized incremental staff costs (both full and part-time); incremental operating costs for travel (as per World Bank norms), meetings, financial management, internal/external audit and procurement; equipment; and project management consultancies.
IMPLEMENTATION
Institutional and Implementation Arrangements
The DoLR has overall responsibility at the national level for planning and delivering centrally financed watershed schemes, such as the IWMP / WDC-PMKSY. Field implementation is by states through existing SLNAs assigned under WDC-PMKSY for watershed development. To ensure that the Neeranchal project directly links to WDC-PMKSY field activities and experiences in selected sites, the project will be implemented in a similar manner; at the central level by the DoLR under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) of the GoI; and at state level through SLNAs.
High level oversight would be provided by the national Project Empowered Committee (PEC). The PEC would review general progress, approve yearly plans and budgets, and provide policy guidance. The PEC would comprise of senior representatives from relevant central ministries and departments.
Central level project execution would be through a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established within DoLR.
Implementation Partner
National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) Roorkee has been partnered under the project for development of Decision Support System (DSS) - Hydrology.
