PANJIM: The State government has modified the scheme ‘Western Ghat Development Programme’ which is aimed at developing soil and water conservation systems, creating sustainable employment opportunities for landless and imparting new technologies in agriculture.
The Western Ghat Development Programme is operational in the talukas of Sanguem, Canacona and Dharbandora in South Goa and Sattari in North Goa for the development of ecological-fragile areas with assistance from the Government of India.
This scheme is aimed at encouraging cultivation of different species of plants, especially medicinal, fruit and forest trees and to explore their use for commercial purpose and to conserve and use biodiversity.
The notification states that farmers, self help groups, user groups, farmers club, society, non-government organisation from Western Ghat talukas are eligible to avail assistance under this programme.
The maximum area to be developed shall be restricted to 1Ha and assistance shall be provided for digging of crescent-shaped trenches of dimension 1.5 mt x 0.4mt x 0.4mt at a distance of 1 to 2 metre from the plant on upper side of the slope at the rate of Rs 25 per trench.
A single beneficiary may open up to 1000 trenches with prior approval, while assistance of 50 percent of the actual cost of works as per GSR shall be provided to the beneficiary with prior approval for plugging gullies with loose boulder checks or by gabion structure, after completion of work.
