In collaboration with the ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning in Nagpur, the Department of Land Resources organized the two-day third national consultative meeting on the draft national technical guidelines for better watershed management on November 4 and 5, 2026. The meeting aims to strengthen watershed development through a scientific, technology-driven and participatory approach.
The inaugural session was attended by Department of Land Resources Secretary IAS Dilip Kumar, NRAA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Department of Land Resources Joint Secretary Nitin Khade, and World Bank Task Team Leader Preeti Kumar, among other representatives.
Balance between scientific complexity and practical implementation
Department of Land Resources Secretary Dilip Kumar emphasized the need to strike a balance between scientific complexity and practical implementation in watershed development programs. He said that technical guidelines should not be so complex that they create difficulties for field-level implementation.
He stressed allowing flexibility while keeping in mind the institutional and technical capacities of states, and the effective utilization of allocated funds.
Use of digital and technical tools
Joint Secretary Nitin Khade highlighted the importance of finalizing the national technical guidelines in a time-bound manner. He said that Land Resource Inventory (LRI), digital soil libraries, and decision support systems can transform watershed planning.
He also stressed the proper use of GIS, remote sensing, and drone technology based on local requirements.