Water Resources

**CHAPTER 6: PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN CONTEXT**

**SECTION 1: CONCEPT OF PLANNING**

**Definition of Planning** | Planning is a systematic process involving thinking, formulation of schemes/programmes, and implementation of actions to achieve specific economic development goals → differs from traditional hit-and-miss methods

**Two Main Approaches to Planning:**

• **Sectoral Planning** → Formulation and implementation of schemes aimed at developing specific economic sectors: agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, power, construction, transport, communication, and social infrastructure

• **Regional Planning** → Development planning with spatial perspective to reduce regional imbalances and uneven economic development across different areas of a country

**Need for Regional Planning** → Uneven spatial distribution of economic development necessitates targeted regional planning to address backward and underdeveloped areas

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**SECTION 2: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF PLANNING IN INDIA**

**Planning Commission (Pre-2015)**

• Established after Independence with centralized planning approach

• Evolved into decentralized multi-level planning at Centre, State, and district levels

• Responsibility: Formulation of Five Year Plans and economic policies

**NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)**

• **Established:** 1 January 2015 (replaced Planning Commission)

• **Objectives:** Involve states in economic policy-making; provide strategic and technical advice to Central and State governments

• **Structure:** Multi-level planning involving Centre, States, and districts

• **Significance:** Represents shift from centralized to decentralized, cooperative federalism approach

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**SECTION 3: TARGET AREA PLANNING**

**Definition** | Target Area Planning focuses on regions that have remained economically backward despite resource availability, using special programmes and strategic interventions

**Causes of Regional Backwardness:**

• Uneven resource distribution

• Lack of technology and capital investment

• Geographic and infrastructural constraints

• Social and institutional barriers

**Why Target Area Planning Emerged** → After 15 years of planning experience, Planning Commission recognized accentuation of regional and social disparities, necessitating special focus areas

**Major Target Area Programmes:**

1. **Command Area Development Programme** → Development of canal-irrigated areas

2. **Drought Prone Area Development Programme** → Addressing water scarcity regions

3. **Desert Development Programme** → Arid and semi-arid area development

4. **Hill Area Development Programme** → Mountainous and hilly region development

5. **8th Five Year Plan Special Programmes** → Infrastructure development in: hill areas, north-eastern states, tribal areas, backward areas

**Target Group Programmes:**

• **Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA)** → Support for small farming communities

• **Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA)** → Assistance for marginal farmers

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**SECTION 4: DROUGHT PRONE AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME**

**Initiation** | Fourth Five Year Plan with dual objectives: employment provision and productive asset creation

**Evolution of Focus:**

**Phase 1 (Initial):** Labour-intensive civil works construction

**Phase 2 (Later):** Shifted to irrigation projects, land development, afforestation, grassland development, rural infrastructure (electricity, roads, markets, credit, services)

**Geographical Distribution of Drought-Prone Areas in India:**

• **Semi-arid and Arid Tracts:** Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh

• **Plateau Regions:** Marathwada (Maharashtra), Rayalseema and Telangana (Andhra Pradesh), Karnataka plateau

• **Other Areas:** Interior parts of Tamil Nadu

• **Protected Regions (high irrigation):** Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan

**Identification Criteria:**

• **1967 (Planning Commission):** 67 districts (entire or partial) identified as drought-prone

• **1972 (Irrigation Commission):** Criterion established: Areas with <30% irrigated land classified as drought-prone

**Programme Objectives:**

• Restore ecological balance between water, soil, plants, human and animal populations

• Create alternative employment opportunities

• Develop irrigation and water management systems

• Create productive assets

**Key Recommendation (National Committee on Development of Backward Areas):**

• Current focus: Agriculture and allied sectors with emphasis on ecological restoration

• **Challenge:** Growing population pressure forcing marginal land cultivation → ecological degradation

• **Solution:** Integrated Watershed Development Approach at micro-level focusing on ecological balance

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**SECTION 5: HILL AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME**

**Initiation** | Fifth Five Year Plan covering 15 districts in hilly regions

**Initial Coverage (15 districts):**

• All hilly districts of Uttar Pradesh (present Uttarakhand)

• Mikir Hill and North Cachar hills (Assam)

• Darjeeling district (West Bengal)

• Nilgiri district (Tamil Nadu)

**1981 National Committee Recommendation** → All hill areas with height >600m (not covered under tribal sub-plan) classified as backward hill areas requiring special development programmes

**Planning Approach** → Detailed plans formulated considering:

• Topographical conditions

• Ecological fragility

• Social structures

• Economic base

**Development Priorities:**

• Horticulture (fruit and vegetable cultivation)

• Plantation development

• Agriculture and allied activities

• Animal husbandry and poultry

• Forestry

• Small-scale and village industries

• Infrastructure development

**Why Special Focus Needed:** Hill areas face natural challenges of terrain, climate, inaccessibility, and limited resource base requiring context-specific development strategies

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**SECTION 6: CASE STUDY – INTEGRATED TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN BHARMAUR REGION (HIMACHAL PRADESH)**

**Geographic Location and Physical Features:**

• **Location:** Bharmaur and Holi tehsils of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh

• **Coordinates:** 32°11'N to 32°41'N latitude; 76°22'E to 76°53'E longitude

• **Area:** ~1,818 sq km

• **Altitude:** 1,500m to 3,700m above mean sea level

• **Mountain Ranges:** Pir Panjal (north), Dhaula Dhar (south), convergence near Rohtang Pass (east)

• **Drainage:** River Ravi and tributaries (Budhil, Tundahen) carve deep gorges

• **Physiographic Divisions:** Four areas (Holi, Khani, Kugti, Tundah) separated by river gorges

• **Climate:** Freezing winter conditions with heavy snowfall; Temperature: January 4°C, July 26°C

**Tribal Population – Gaddis:**

• **Community:** Gaddis – distinct tribal community of Himalayan region

• **Traditional Practice:** Transhumance (seasonal pastoralist movement)

• **Language:** Gaddiali dialect

• **Historical Status:** Notified tribal area since 21 November 1975; included in Scheduled Tribes (1970s)

• **Livelihood:** Predominantly agriculture and allied activities (sheep and goat rearing)

**Socio-Economic Conditions:**

• **2011 Census Population:** 39,113 (21 persons/sq km)

• **Development Status:** One of most backward areas in Himachal Pradesh (economically and socially)

• **Historical Challenges:** Geographical and political isolation; socio-economic deprivation

• **Environmental Constraints:** Harsh climate, low resource base, fragile environment

**Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) – Bharmaur:**

**Initiation & Framework:**

• **Started:** 1970s with inclusion of Gaddis in Scheduled Tribes

• **Formal Plan:** Fifth Five Year Plan (1974) – Tribal Sub-Plan introduced

• **Status:** One of five ITDP projects in Himachal Pradesh

• **Objectives:** Improve quality of life; narrow development gap between Bharmaur and other Himachal Pradesh areas

**Development Priorities (Highest to Moderate):**

1. **Transport and Communications** → Roads, connectivity infrastructure

2. **Agriculture and Allied Activities** → Farm development, livestock support

3. **Social and Community Services** → Education, healthcare, water, welfare services

**Key Contributions of Tribal Sub-Plan:**

• Infrastructure development: Schools, healthcare facilities, potable water systems

• Road construction for accessibility

• Educational facilities for Gaddis

• Healthcare services expansion

• Water supply systems

• Community and social services

**Strategic Approach:** Development plan specifically designed for tribal community's unique needs, geographical constraints, and traditional livelihood systems

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**CBSE BOARD TIPS FOR EXAMINATION**

**Map-Based Questions:**

• Mark drought-prone areas: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Rayalseema, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

• Locate hill areas and tribal development zones

• Show river systems in case study regions

• Identify state boundaries for ITDP projects

**Data Interpretation:**

• Temperature variations in Bharmaur: January 4°C vs July 26°C indicates extreme seasonality

• Population density: 21 persons/sq km shows sparse habitation in hilly terrain

• Area coverage: 1,818 sq km with 39,113 people (low density)

• Altitude range 1,500-3,700m explains development challenges

**Diagram Labeling:**

• Physiographic divisions of Bharmaur with rivers

• Target area planning components and interconnections

• Programme evolution timeline (Phase 1 → Phase 2)

• Institutional hierarchy: NITI Aayog → States → Districts

**Short Answer Strategies:**

• Distinguish sectoral vs regional planning with one example each

• Explain why drought-prone areas need special attention (population pressure, ecological degradation)

• Describe ITDP as integrated approach addressing multiple sectors simultaneously

**Long Answer Structure:**

• Problem statement (regional imbalance) → Solution (target area planning) → Implementation (programmes) → Outcomes (Bharmaur case)

• Always support with data, dates, and geographic examples

• Link sustainable development concept: ecological balance + economic development + social welfare