Objectives

• To mitigate the adverse effects of desertification and adverse climatic conditions on crops, human and livestock population, combating desertification.
• To restore ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources i.e. land, water, vegetative cover and rising land productivity.
• To implement developmental works through the watershed approach, for land development, water resource development and afforestation/pasture development

Over the years, the increase in human and livestock population in drought prone and desert areas has placed the natural resources of certain very arid areas under relatively greater stress. The major problems are continuous depletion of vegetative cover, increase in soil erosion and fall in ground water table. On the recommendations of the National Commission on Agriculture, in its Interim Report (1974), and the Final Report (1976), the Desert Development Programme (DDP) was started in the year 1977-78. The programme is being implemented through watershed approach under the Guidelines for Watershed Development w.e.f. 1.4.95.This project is under implementation in the districts of Davanagere, Bagalakote, Raichur, Bijapur, Koppal and Bellary. It covers 22 blocks in these 6 districts. The allocation is shared in the ratio of 75:25 between the centre and the state. 130 watersheds have been taken up for development under this programme.
During 2005-06 it was planned to develop an area of 23296 hectares with an outlay of Rupees 2517.93 lakhs, against which an area of 16767 hectares was developed by incurring Rupees 845.31 lakhs.

Funding Pattern
The DDP is a Centrally Sponsored Programme and funds are directly released to DRDAs/ZPs for implementation of the programme.

Outlay and Expenditure for 2003-04

As against the plan allocation of Rs.185 crore for DDP in 2002-03, an increased provision of Rs.215 crore has been made for the year 2003-04. Out of this allocation, an amount of Rs.214.80 crore has been released upto 31.3.2004.

http://www.karunadu.gov.in/watershedsite/desdevprg.htm