The overall attributes of the watershed development approach, by and large, are three fold, viz.
promoting economic development of the rural area;
employment generation; and
restoring ecological balance to develop equitable distribution of the benefits of land and water resources development
This results in the consequent biomass production, involvement of village communities in participatory planning, implementation, social and environmental arrangement, maintenance of assets and to operate in a more socially inclusive manner. Main benefits which can be achieved from IWMP are :
Landslide control and slope stabilization
Increase in water availability in water scarce areas through water harvesting structures
Increase in surface water and ground water
Reduction in soil erosion leading to better soil moisture retention and preservation of soil fertility
Positive change in land use pattern
Crop intensification
Reduced migration
Well-planned Land Use
Cropping and farming strategies