Study on Impact Assessment of Mega Watershed Project in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The physical geography of the watershed project is undulating with net treatable area of 4456 hectares, encompassing six micro watersheds. Integrated watershed management interventions impacted biophysical characteristics measured through remote sensing& GIS techniques, environmental and socio-economic aspects as evaluated by physical visit to the project area. Positive impacts observed in sustaining the productivity of crops even under aberrant weather conditions in successive years; development of waste lands and current fallow lands; increase in area of cultivation for agriculture and horticulture crops; improvement in agri-vegetation and vigor; expansion of water bodies; better soil moisture in the profile as a result of the effective in-situ soil and water conservation activities; increase in productivity of milk. The productivity of water also improved through conservation measures and judicious use of available water resources. Watershed interventions helped in enhancement of family incomes, especially the marginal and small farmers, landless poor sections of watershed community.