The government today said that the guidelines for the integrated water shed management programme will be revised within a month.

Talking to reporters following a meeting the State Water Ministers, in New Delhi today the Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Jairam Ramesh said that after deliberations with the State Government it has been found that the current guidelines are very rigid and provide no flexibility to state government according to their requirement.

The Minister also informed that the state government has also demanded that the cost of 15000 rupees per hectare demarcated for naxal affected areas for the water shed management programme should also be extended to areas with special problems.

The Minister said that another important decision reached at was to release the money for the programme on rural development for NAREGA model which is twice every year. The release will be based on the annual action plan of the state government.

The first instalment will carry 60 percent of the amount while the second and final instalment will carry 40 percent after the completion of the first phase.

The Minister also expressed the need for authentic data to satellite imagery for effective programme implementation.