Which of the following statements is correct about Haryali, a watershed development programme?

a- Haryali is a watershed development project sponsored by the Rural Government which aims at enabling the rural population to conserve water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries, and afforestation.

b- The Project is being executed by Gram Panchayats with people’s participation.

Only statement b is correct.

The Central and State Governments have initiated many watershed development and management programs in the country. Some of these are being implemented by non-governmental organizations also. Haryali is a watershed development project sponsored by the Central Government which aims at enabling the rural population to conserve water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries, and afforestation. The Project is being executed by Gram Panchayats with people’s participation. Neeru-Meeru (Water and You) program (in Andhra Pradesh) and Arvary Pani Sansad (in Alwar, Rajasthan) have taken up constructions of various water-harvesting structures such as percolation tanks, dug-out ponds (Johad), check dams, etc., through people’s participation. Tamil Nadu has made water harvesting structures in houses compulsory. No building can be constructed without making structures for water harvesting.