The salient points of the guidelines are as follows:

The guidelines were the outcome of a need felt to infuse a greater degree of flexibility into the Guidelines in view of the large variation in local conditions, needs and the social structure. This need had been brought out by none other than Prof. Hanumantha Rao himself in his Lovraj Kumar Memorial Lecture (2000). The reformulations have been done along the following lines to ensure -  

(i)Programme-specific and focused project approach,
(ii)Greater flexibility in implementation,
(iii)Well -defined role for State, District and Village level Institutions,
(iv)Removal of overlaps,
(v)A provision for keeping the Watershed Development Projects on probation,
(vi)An "Exit Protocol" for the PIAs,
(vii)A "Twin track" approach to the implementation of projects,
(viii)Seeking a combination of GO/NGO as PIA,
(ix)A greater role of women,
(x)An effective role for the Panchayat Raj Institutions,
(xi)Bringing to centre-stage SHGs comprising rural poor, especially those, belonging to SC/ST categories.
(xii)Establishing a credit facility from financial institutions,
(xiii)Transparency in implementation,
(xiv)Effective use of remote sensing data furnished by NRSA

These Guidelines are applicable to IWDP, DPAP and DDP and any other programme notified by the Government of India.

These Guidelines should be taken as general principles for implementation of watershed development projects and should not be used as a tool to make their implementation a complex exercise. The State Watershed Development Committees are empowered to clarify the provisions of these Guidelines to suit local social, infrastructure and geographical problems subject to the basic philosophy mentioned earlier on.

The objectives of Watershed Development Projects will be: -
(i)Developing wastelands/degraded lands, drought-prone and desert areas on watershed basis, keeping in view the capability of land, site-conditions and local needs.
(ii)Promoting the overall economic development and improving the socio-economic condition of the resource poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the programme areas.
(iii)Mitigating the adverse effects of extreme climatic conditions such as drought and desertification on crops, human and livestock population for their overall improvement.
(i)Restoring ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing natural resources i.e. land, water, vegetative cover.
(ii)Encouraging village community for :
(iii)Sustained community action for the operation and maintenance of assets created and further development of the potential of the natural resources in the watershed.
(iv)Simple, easy and affordable technological solutions and institutional arrangements that make use of, and build upon, local technical knowledge and available materials.
(v)Employment generation, poverty alleviation, community empowerment and development of human and other economic resources of the village.

These programmes will be implemented, mainly, through the Zilla Parishads (ZPs)/District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA). However, wherever it is expedient in the interest of Watershed Development Programmes, the projects can be implemented through any Department of the State Government or autonomous agencies of Central Government or State Governments with the approval of the Department of Land Resources, Government of India.

The projects will be sanctioned by Government of India as per procedure in vogue at the time of adoption of these revised guidelines. The Department of Land Resources, Government of India, may amend or relax this procedure from time to time. In case of interpretation of any of the provision of these guidelines, the Department of Land Resources will be the final authority. However, the Department of Land Resources may sanction projects for treatment of wastelands in Special Problem Areas such as high altitude regions, land slide areas, slopes having more than 30 degree gradient or for any other specified technical reason. These projects need not necessarily be implemented through participatory mode and may be implemented

The Department of Land Resources has brought out the Wastelands Atlas of India in May 2000 in collaboration with NRSA Hyderabad. The State Governments are expected to prepare a long-term perspective plan for treatment of wastelands/degraded lands, drought prone and desert areas over a period of 15 years.

As per the guidelines, the forestlands forming part of such watersheds may also be treated simultaneously.

The project shall be implemented over a period of five years.

To ensure coordination among various Government Departments/Institutions and Voluntary Agencies, a State Watershed Development Committee shall be constituted under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary /Agricultural Production Commissioner/ Development Commissioner. Secretaries & Heads of Departments of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Forests, Soil Conservation, Horticulture, Agriculture, State Remote Sensing Centre, Harijan and Tribal Welfare, two representatives of prominent NGOs working in the field of watershed development, two prominent Women representatives, one representative of State Training Institutions in related field will be the members of the Committee. A designated Department in the State Government shall be the nodal Department to service this Committee and to supervise the implementation of Watershed Development Programmes.

To ensure coordination at district level, a District Watershed Committee shall be constituted under the Chairman, Zilla Parishad or DRDA as the case may be. It shall consist of CEO/PD, ZP/DRDA and district level officers of the line departments associated with the implementation of watershed Development projects, one representative of the State Remote Sensing Centre, one member from the relevant Research and Training institutions in the district, one NGO representative, at least two prominent women workers and one prominent social worker. The District Watershed Development Committee will advise and assist the ZP/DRDA on matters, regarding selection of PIAs, members of Watershed Development teams, training, community organisation, publicity campaigns and such other items/activities. The Committee will also approve the detailed action plan for watershed development projects in the district. It should meet at least once in a quarter and review the progress of the watershed Development projects, assist in resolving management and administrative problems, guide in implementation, identify policy issues, if any, for reference to the State Government /Government of India.

ZPs/DRDAs or any other Institution in whose favour the watershed development projects have been sanctioned shall be fully responsible for their implementation. The CEO, ZP/PD, DRDA will be the Member Secretary of the DWDC. The ZP/DRDA at the district level shall have the right and responsibility to monitor and review the implementation of the programme. The CEO / PD of DRDA /ZP shall maintain the accounts of watershed development projects and shall sign all the statutory papers, such as, UCs, Audited Statements of Accounts, Progress Reports, Bonds etc.

The Zilla Parishads and other Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) shall have very important role to play in Watershed Development Programmes. Wherever the DRDA has been made responsible for implementation of the watershed programmes, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad shall be a member of the DWDC. The PRIs shall have the right to monitor and review the implementation of the programme and provide guidance for improvements in the administrative arrangements and procedures with a view to ensure convergence of other programmes of Ministry of Rural Development such as JGSY, SGSY, IAY, CRSP, Rural Drinking Water Supply etc.

At the Village level, the Gram Panchayat shall be fully involved in the implementation of the programme, specially community organisation and training programmes. The watershed action plan should have the approval of Gram Sabha and it should be a part of annual action plan of Gram Sabha.

While the ZP/DRDA shall administer the Watershed Development Programmes under the supervision and guidance of the State Governments and Government of India, the projects at the field level shall be implemented by the Watershed Committees under the overall supervision and guidance of Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs). An NGO is eligible for selection as PIA only if it has been active in the field of watershed development or any similar area developmental activities in rural areas for some years.

Each PIA shall carry out its duties through a multi-disciplinary team designated as the Watershed Development Team (WDT). Each WDT may handle 10-12 watershed development projects and may have at least four members one each from the disciplines of Forestry / Plant science, animal sciences, civil /agricultural engineering and social sciences. At least one member of the WDT should be a woman.

The PIA shall constitute Self Help Groups (SHGs) s well as User Groups (Ugs) in the watershed area with the help of WDT.

Where a watershed is coterminous with a Village Panchayat or its area is confined within the boundaries of a Village Panchayat, the Gram Sabha of the Panchayat concerned will be designated as the Watershed Association. However, where a watershed comprises of areas coming under the jurisdiction of more than one Panchayat, members of the community who are directly or indirectly dependent upon the watershed area, will be organised into a Watershed Association. Such a Watershed Association should be registered as a Society under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860. The WA will elect its own President, who shall also be the Chairman of the Watershed Committee. The Watershed Secretary shall assist the President of WA in the discharge of the responsibilities entrusted to the WA.

Subject to the overall supervision and control of the Watershed Association, a Watershed Committee shall carry out the day-to-day activities of the Watershed Development Project. The Watershed Committee may consist of 10-12 members who will be nominated by the Watershed Association from amongst the user groups (4-5), self-help groups (3-4), Gram Panchayat (2-3) and a member of the Watershed Development Team. While making nominations, it may be ensured that the Committee has at least one-third representation of women. There should be adequate representation of members from the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes etc. Needless to stress, the Watershed Committee will be responsible for coordination and liaison with the Gram Panchayat, the Watershed Development Team, the DRDA/ZP and Government Agencies concerned to ensure smooth implementation of the Watershed Development Project.

ZP/DRDA shall ensure that relevant training programmes are organised for all the functionaries involved in watershed development.

WDT shall call a meeting of the Watershed Association for preparation of watershed treatment/development plan, on the basis of the information generated from the benchmark survey of the watershed areas & detailed PRA exercise. After general discussion, the WC will prepare an integrated Watershed Development Plan under the guidance of the WDT and submit the same to PIA. After the detailed action plan is approved by the ZP/DRDA, it would be the responsibility of the PIA to get the same implemented through the Watershed Committees with the active involvement of WDT members.

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