The Centre has approved the National Watershed Management Project -Neeranchal with an outlay of over 2 thousand and 42 crore rupees. In a written reply, Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat informed the Lok Sabha that the world bank assisted project is being implemented in nine States including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh during the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21. <br/><br/>The project will lead to reduced surface runoff of rain water and increased recharge of ground water. It will result in better availability of water in rain -fed areas leading to cropping intensity and enhanced income of farmers .