3.4 million hectares of degraded land restored in 12 years, improving livelihoods and farm productivity: Rural Development Ministry
New Delhi, June 20
Nearly 3.4 million hectares of degraded land have been restored across the country over the last 12 years, improving agricultural productivity and creating better livelihood opportunities, Nitin Khade, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development said on Saturday.
Speaking at the 5th NAREDCO Mahi Real Estate Convention 2026 in New Delhi, Khade stressed the need for sustainable urbanisation while strengthening rural economies and conserving natural resources.
Highlighting the work undertaken by the Department of Land Resources, Khade said that "nearly 3.4 million hectares of degraded land have been restored over the last twelve years, improving agricultural productivity and creating better livelihood opportunities."
He said that despite ongoing efforts to make cities more liveable, several challenges continue to persist, requiring alternative development models that support both rural and urban growth.
Expressing concern over emerging water challenges and changing climatic conditions, Khade underlined the need for water conservation measures across urban and rural regions. He urged the real estate industry to contribute more actively to water conservation and rural development initiatives, saying sustainable growth would require "a balanced approach benefiting both cities and villages."
The remarks came during a panel discussion on "Global Pathways to Sustainable Social Development and Self-Sufficient Cities" at the convention held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
Former Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra said future cities must be self-sufficient in critical resources while remaining inclusive and accessible.
"Sustainability is fundamentally about ensuring the long-term survival and prosperity of cities," Mishra said. He added that future cities must be self-sufficient in "water, energy and human capital" while remaining inclusive for all sections of society.
"Cities are for the people. They must provide quality housing, robust infrastructure, efficient mobility and a better quality of life for every citizen," he said.
Mishra also highlighted the role of government programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission in reshaping India's urban landscape over the past decade.
NAREDCO Mahi Chairperson Ananta S Raghuvanshi said sustainability has become a necessity amid rapid urbanisation and growing pressure on infrastructure.
"Sustainability today is no longer an option but a necessity," she said, adding that discussions around sustainability have now moved "to the centre stage."
The convention also hosted a panel discussion on skilling and sustainability in the real estate sector, where industry experts emphasised that developing a future-ready workforce and adopting green building practices will be critical for the sector's long-term growth.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see government focusing on restoring degraded land! 🌾 My village in Rajasthan has benefited from such schemes - farmers are getting better yields now. But we need more awareness at the grassroots level. Many villagers still don't know how to apply for these programs. Hope the ministry conducts more outreach camps in rural areas.
Impressive numbers but I wonder about the quality of restoration. Are we just talking about tree planting or actual ecosystem recovery? In many Western countries, restored lands take decades to regain full productivity. Would love to see independent audits of these claims. Still, any progress is welcome.
The real estate industry needs to step up, absolutely! We can't keep building concrete jungles without thinking about water and soil. But kudos to the ministry for this achievement. Also loved what Mr. Mishra said about cities being for people - not just for cars and malls. Swachh Bharat and Smart Cities have indeed transformed our urban landscape. Let's keep the momentum going! 🇮🇳
As someone who works in rural development, I can confirm these numbers are real. But the challenge is sustaining these restored lands. We've seen cases where after initial success, local communities don't maintain the revived land because of lack of ownership. The ministry should focus more on community-led models where villagers feel responsible for upkeep. Also, linking restoration with livelihood is key - we need more value-added agriculture on these lands, not just subsistence farming.
Finally some positive environmental news from India! This is significant progress. The real estate industry should be mandated to contribute 1-2% of their profits to land restoration
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