New Delhi, Nov 28: The minister for science and technology, YK Alagh said that long-term development programmes should not be neglected while pursuing short- and medium-term programmes.

Alagh, who was inaugurating the two-day national workshop on land use planning in the capital on Friday, also called for a national watershed plan to ensure that not only were the irrigation requirements met in different regions of the country but that the same were met in more sustainable a manner without degrading the land.

Expressing concern at the slow progress in watershed development programme, he emphasised on the need for a national movement backed by credit and community participation.

The workshop has been organised jointly by National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP) and the Planning Commission.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.