Factors Influencing Sustainability Of Indo-German Watershed Development Programme In The State Of Maharashtra, India

Research Article
Bharat Kakade
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2019.1006.3560
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Sustainable watershed; factors influencing watershed sustainability; social, economic and ecological indicators.
Abstract: 

The new generation watershed development programmes in India have created remarkable impact on both environment and residents of the watershed. However, the studies in past have indicated that the sustainability of the benefits has been in question. A lack of research studies after substantial amount of time post project was also observed. Indo-German Watershed Development Project (IGWDP) in the state of Maharashtra, India was studied to find out the factors influencing sustainability of watershed development projects in India. From the sustainability study of 72 watersheds conducted by an organizationBAIF Development Research Foundation, 36 watersheds (from Phase-I and Phase-II of IGWDP) were assessed for social, economic and ecological sustainability using new sustainability framework. The key factors influencing sustainability of Indo-German Watershed Project included the social, institutional, management and maintenance mechanisms and capacities of institutions (Kakade, 2017). The other factors studied for sustainability included the size of watershed, age of watershed project post its completion, project implementing organization and the Agro climate zone in which watershed is located. The larger the size, more was the sustainability and higher the age, weaker was the sustainability. The reputed implementing organizations found to have positive influence on sustainability. Although a correlation was observed in sustainability fund created, used and managed by watershed committee and level of sustainability, but was statistically insignificant.