Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Friday sanctioned Rs 125 crore for Andhra Pradesh as the first installment during 2012-13 under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme.

The IWMP addresses important issues such as soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, enhancing productivity of degraded lands, creating livelihood opportunities for people living in ecologically fragile areas, etc. There are a number of districts which would benefit under the IWMP.

In a letter, Jairam Ramesh asked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to   direct   the   officials   concerned   to   step-up  its implementation  so  that  the  state can  claim  the  second  installment  of central assistance in the next couple of months itself.