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Government Of Assam Soil Conservation

Activities under Soil Conservation Department

  • (i) Land Development Works :- 

    Contour bunds and field bunds in cultivable land with mild slope:- Construction of earthen bunds along contours and field bunds at  suitable locations are taken up by the department to prevent sheet and rill erosion. The bunds also serve as barrier and retain water in-situ which increases soil moisture  and thereby increases crop production.

    (ii) Land Reclamation & Water Distribution Works:- Making Water-logged uncultivable agricultural land cultivable by way of construction Drainage Channels for draining out the excess water from Water-logged area. The channels may be of both Earthen and Brick Masonry depending on the site condition.

    (iii) Gully Control Works:- Gully erosion is the severe form of erosion in arable land which eats up thousands of hectares of agricultural land annually. This occurs mostly in the foot hill area of northern bank of the river Brahmaputra. Gully eroded areas becomes degraded and thus becomes unfit for agriculture. Gully control structures like RCC Drop Spillways, Gabion Structures, etc. are constructed at the mouth of the Gully to stop further advancement of the gully heads and fingers and to improve the moisture regime in the command areas which results in increase in production and ensures protection of agricultural land from getting lost.

    (vii) Water Harvesting Structures (Check Dam) :- Construction of RCC Check dams is one of the water conservation measures which are taken up depending on the topographical, geological, geo-morphological and hydrological parameters of an area. "Check dams" are small barriers built across the direction of water flow on shallow rivers and streams for the purpose of water harvesting. The small dams retain excess water flow during monsoon rains in a small catchment area behind the structure. Check Dams facilitate farmers to use the storage water for minor irrigation. Besides, it helps in recharging ground water and enhance soil moisture regime.

    (iv) River Training /River Bank stabilization work:- The rivers/streams in Assam are mostly meandering in nature and usually cause severe river bank erosion problems along the Agriculture and inhabited areas resulting in loss of land and crop area. Due to heavy sedimentation in riverbeds, the problem of flood is getting worse every year. Soil Conservation Department constructs spur, boulder revetments, boulder pitching works at vulnerable portion of the river banks to overcome this problem.

                    

    (v) Protective Afforestation Works:-  It is taken up along the bank of the river/streams and in denuded catchments and hilly area with steep slope. The main objective of the scheme is to prevent the process of soil loss due to erosion.

    (vi) Wetland Development Works:-  Wetlands in Assam are rich in bio-diversity and it plays an important role in maintaining Micro-climate of the locality and also in rural economy. Due to siltation, most of the Wetlands are gradually shrinking pausing threat to the flora & fauna of the wetlands. By way of constructing periphery bunds coupled with suitable safe-disposal structures, the wetlands are protected from all sorts of threats. Planting useful species of Trees along the periphery bunds will increase not only the micro-climate but also the scenic beauty of the area.

    (vii) Nature Conservation/Landscaping & Beautification Works:-  Nature Conservation, Landscaping and beautification works are done in public places for maintaining micro-climate of the area. In certain problematic area like eroded area, where there is no agriculture practice, Nature Conservation work may give some sorts of solution in protecting that area. By executing this type of works, positive impacts can be ensured from the public too.

    (vii) Cash Crop Development :- The Cash Crop Development Project will promote cash crop production. Specifically, it aims to increase production of Rubber, Tea, Coffee, etc. In hillock with moderate slope, cash crops are grown for soil conservation and optimum use of land on a sustained basis. 

                In addition to the above activities, Soil Conservation Department is also undertaking construction works for its infrastructures like Departmental Buildings, Approach Roads, Boundary Walls, etc. for its own.