National Watershed Conference & Watershed Mahotsav 2025 - Advancing Community-Led Water and Soil Conservation

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The National Watershed Conference 2025, held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, brought together senior officials, research institutions, and representatives from NGOs to discuss strategies for sustainable and resilient watershed management.

Organised by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the two-day event also marked the launch of the Watershed Mahotsav, a national initiative to promote community participation and awareness in soil and water conservation.

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Policy Context: Integrating Technology and Community in Watershed Development

The conference marks the next phase of the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 3.0), focusing on integrating innovation, technology, and local participation.

Deliberations highlighted the shift from traditional watershed practices to integrated approaches, including river restoration and the revival of traditional water bodies.

The need to balance current and future water demands by combining modern technology with community-driven conservation was underscored.

National Watershed Conference 2025 - Key Details

The conference focuses on:

• Institutional innovations for effective, future-ready watershed governance
• Integration of technology to improve soil and water conservation outcomes
• Encouraging community participation for long-term sustainability
• Expanding the scope of watershed programmes to include river restoration and rejuvenation of traditional water systems
• Field experiences and insights shared at the conference are expected to shape the design of the upcoming WDC-PMKSY 3.0 framework.

Watershed Mahotsav - Fostering Jan Bhagidari and Revitalisation

The Watershed Mahotsav, launched during the conference, is designed to foster Jan Bhagidari (public participation) in watershed management. Celebrated across India at both the state and project levels, the Mahotsav includes:

• Recognition of winners of the Watershed Jan Bhagidari Cup 2025
• Inauguration of completed works and foundation laying of new projects
• Shramdaan (voluntary labour) and tree plantation drives
• Awareness activities to strengthen public engagement in watershed programmes

The Watershed Mahotsav aims to highlight the achievements of PMKSY’s watershed initiatives and outline a future roadmap for strengthening water security, agricultural resilience, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Mission Watershed Revitalisation

Launched under the Watershed Mahotsav, the Mission Watershed Revitalisation provides fresh direction for the maintenance and restoration of soil and water conservation assets created under WDC-PMKSY 1.0.

The initiative will be implemented through MGNREGA for both funding and on-ground execution, aiming to establish a sustainable framework for the long-term upkeep of watershed infrastructure, enhancing ecological balance and water availability.

Background: Watershed Development Component of PMKSY 2.0

The WDC-PMKSY 2.0 (Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. It focuses on the development of rainfed and degraded lands across India, including the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Key activities include:

• Soil and moisture conservation works (check dams, ponds, percolation tanks)
• Rainwater harvesting and spring-shed development
• Afforestation, nursery development, and pasture management
• Livelihood support initiatives for landless households in watershed areas

The programme aims to restore ecological balance, boost agricultural productivity, and promote participatory natural resource management, thereby strengthening rural resilience and sustainability.

DhruvStar Industry Insights: What it Means for Rural Development & Climate Resilience

• Emerging Rural Services Market: Watershed restoration and maintenance through MGNREGA opens avenues for rural enterprises in water conservation, geo-mapping, and soil health services.
• Tech and Data Innovation: Increasing reliance on remote sensing, GIS, and IoT-based monitoring creates opportunities for climate-tech startups and agri-informatics solution providers. E.g. Satyukt Analytics uses satellite remote sensing technology to provide insights for agriculture, water resources management, healthcare, etc.
• Sustainability-linked Finance: Watershed and climate-resilience initiatives can attract impact investors and green finance institutions, aligning local projects with global sustainability benchmarks. India’s first “green bonds” (issued in 2023) included natural resource projects like watershed restoration.

Sources

[1] PIB

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