Last Updated on: November 02, 2023

Overview

Soil is one of the world’s most important natural resource. Together with air and water it’s the basics for life on planet earth. Soil can be defined as the mother of all living organism. Soil are essential for the continuality of life on earth since many ecosystems depend on them for survival. Soil is the basic need of all development works undertaken through the development department, of Govt. such as agriculture, forest, irrigation and many others. Conservation of soil and water i.e. the two gifts of nature are   used in such a way that the benefit of Soil & water are obtained to optimum level without losing or degrading it in a perpetual and sustainable basis.

     The Soil Conservation department undertakes various soil & water conservation measures with the objectives of controlling all forms of erosion and soil and water losses caused by various factors. Half of our state geographical area is affected by different forms of soil erosion and degradation of land, which causes great loss to poverty and productivity.
 

Objectives

1. To Prevent the land degradation.
2. To reduce the surface run off.
3. To improve soil structure by adopting soil conservation measure including Gully Control, Farm ponds diversion channel, water harvesting structure.
4. To reduce ecological balance through scientific management of land rain water.

 

Administrative Setup:

In the Divisional level, Divisional Soil Conservation Officers are responsible for implementing all ongoing projects. Divisional officers are also assisted by Assistant Soil Conservation Officers (ASCO) under their control. All the Division are subdivided into various Range which is under direct control of Soil Conservation Rangers. Rangers are responsible for execution of the various works. They are also assisted by numbers of subordinate staff like Soil Conservation overseer, Soil Conservation Demonstrator (Sr., Jr), Soil Conservation Field Worker and Soil Conservation Plantation Mali.

Functions:

Soil Conservation Department is adopting most effective and gainful management of three vital interdependent natural resources, mainly soil, water and vegetation by implementing various activities for land and water management. The department also takes up numbers of schemes related to control of shifting cultivation in difference areas by providing alternative practices like horticulture, cash crop development and many more. In addition the department also implement Central Sector Scheme, like Integrated Watershed Management Programme (PMSKY) with object of Natural resources management programme and development of Rural farmers through adoption of small livelihood enterprise.

Activities and Programms of the Department:

Protection of Riverine Land: Erosion affected lands by rivers/ streams are protected by constructing boulder spur/ bamboo spurs, bank revetment, porcupines etc. with vegetative measures wherever & whenever necessary.

Gully control works: Gully erosion is the main soil conservation problem in BTAD areas. To check gully erosion and to improve moisture retention in catchments areas, RCC drop spill way, drop inlets, chute spillways, boulder gabion structure, Brush wood check dams, earthen cross bund etc. are constructed across the gullies which are very effective and popular in these areas.

Protective Afforestation: Afforestation is done subject to availability of land along the river, stream banks and in the areas subjected to erosion. The scheme also maintains ecological balance.

Land Development Scheme: In Slopping cultivableland,  construction of earthen bund is done along the contour to prevent sheet erosion and to retain moisture in the field & as well as protect the most fertile layer from erosion.

Land Reclamation and Water Distribution: Draining out excess water by cutting nullah in water logged areas is also done to improved the land quality.

Building & Approah Road: The department also constructs office building and staff quarter along with approach Road for ease & comport of working in office to maximum the output of works and to ensure comfortable stay while discharging duties for various categories of staff.

Integrated Watershed Management Project: (PMKSY-WDC) Integrated Watershed Management Project which are centrally Sponsored Schemes funded by Central Government for overall increase of food production and increase of moisture regime in the cultivable field & maintain ecological balance.

	Boulder pitching at Dhalandadha & JhaJrbispani under RIDF-XXV/2020-21
	Domgaon Water Harvesting Project 2020-21 under RIDF-XXV
	Kaljhora Gully Control Project at Batagaon village 2020-21 under SOPD-TSP
	Land Development & Soil Erosion Control under Sidli Development Block 2020-21 under RIDF-XXV
	Mozati Riverine Land Development Project at Dologaon village 2020-21 under RIDF-XXV
	Protection of Riverline Land Development Project by way Construction of R.C.C. Check Dam at Mainaguri village 2020-21 under SOPD-G
	Uzani River Bank Erosion Control Project under Basugaon Dev. Block under RIDF-XXV/2020-21
	Aienadi IWMP NRM Activities Const. of Gully Control Project at Maopar village 2020-21 under PMKSY
	Aienadi IWMP NRM Activities Const. of Fishery Pond at Balapara No. 2 village 2020-21 under PMKSY