Central funds to Karnataka for ''Hariyali'' programme

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned the release of the second instalment amounting to Rs 1.20 crore to the Zilla Panchayat of Chikmagalur district in Karnataka for the implementation of the centrally-sponsored scheme "Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) under "Hariyali Guidelines".

The Ministry initiated the ''Hariyali'' programme for empowering the village community through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to undertake area development progammes on a watershed basis with financial and technical support from the government.

Under this initiative, all the on-going area development programmes, such as Integrated Wasteland Development Programmes (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) are to be implemented through the PRIs. New projects under the area development programmes are being implemented under the Hariyali Guidelines'' from April 1, 2003. A Special emphasis is given to rain water harvesting and desilting of ponds under watershed projects.

The Hariyali programme has suceeded in bringing 87 lakh hectres of wasteland under green cover.

UNI