The team, headed by former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Mohan Dharia, held a meeting with State government officials recently and handed over the proposal to them for further consideration.

Dharia confirmed that the proposal had been discussed with the State government and claimed that the effective implementation of the programme would bring 20 to 30 per cent of land under permanent green cover and protect the fast degrading environment.

The report said that though nearly five million hectares of land in Gujarat could be brought under irrigation, the remaining area would always be dependent on rains. To provide assured water to these areas, the report added, the State would have to conserve every drop of water whenever and wherever it rained. ``This is possible only through effective micro-watershed development programmes,'' the Dharia report suggested.

It further said that in order to meet the acute problem of food and water scarcity and to prevent soil erosion, the programme of watershed development had to be implemented within a span of 10 to 15 years.

``Though it appears to be an ambitious programme, with proper planning, decentralisation and involvement of people it is possible to implement this programme,'' the report added. If the waste and degraded lands are to be brought under culture, say, within 10 years, the State has to cover about 1800 villages every year.

The Dharia committee report said that it could be argued that adequate funds were not available with the State. However, what was required was effective coordination among the departments like soil and water conservation, forest, social forestry, animal husbandry, horticulture and various employment programmes along with efficient management and participation of people.

The 10-year programme also aimed at bringing 30 per cent area under green cover including forest lands. As the forest lands in the State were about 10 per cent, for additional 20 per cent the State would have to take up programmes of horticulture and agro-forestry on private and public lands. On the cattle wealth of the State, the report observed that for the total 19 million livestock, the emphasis should be on providing improved grasses like stylo, marvel and hammata.

The report said that for effective implementation of the programme, it was suggested that the State should create a high power authority or a mission under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. ``A renowned experienced and committed personality should work as the working president and should be in-charge of the programme,'' the report suggested.

On the benefits that could be accrued from the programmes' implementation, the Dharia report claimed that additional income from the development of wastelands per year will be of the order of Rs 10,000 crore and nearly Rs 5,000 crore from the cattle wealth including processed products. Thus, the total additional wealth of the State would be in the range of Rs 15,000 crore per year.

It further claimed that Gujarat would be able to ensure food security of the State and to some extent of the country and would help make India surplus in food grains and agro-based products.