Out of 5 04 million ha of total geographical area of Punjab, 1.0 million ha area, mainly in Hoshiarpur Shiwaliks. suffers from the problems of soil erosion and land degradation. Consequently, agricultural economy of the farmers of the region operatesat a low key. A watershed management programme (WMP) was therefore taken up in atypical hilly watershed of 627 ha in Hoshiarpur Shiwaliks in village Relmajra in 1991 to demonstrate as to how soil erosion from the hills and flood problem in the plain canbe minimized while boosting hill economy, through development of hili resourccs with community participation. Rainwater harvesting, storage and recycling were inbuilt in the WMP. New innovations were made on the private as well as community lands. The WMP also gave impetus to dairy development progiamme and 84 per cent increase in milk yield was witnessed. A water user's society was formed which played a pivotal role in boosting the hill resource economy. Benefit: cost ratio of 1.27 indicated economic viability of such programmes.
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