The West Bengal government has undertaken a Rs 500-crore programme to convert 50,000 hectares of non–arable land into cultivable area in the State’s four drought-prone districts — Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia and West Midnapore. The decision was taken by the Cabinet and an amount of Rs. 500 crore had been cleared for the purpose, State Parliamentary Affairs and Higher Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said here on Thursday. The project work would start immediately with a target to make an additional 50,000 hectares of non—arable land fit for agriculture, he said. Besides focusing on efficient use of arable lands through better crop management technologies in the drought–prone areas, the programme aimed at environmental protection and restoration of ecological balance through appropriate natural resource management technologies, Mr. Chatterjee said. The initiative would minimise the adverse effects of drought on the production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources, he added. The Cabinet also cleared a project to set up a centre for rehabilitation of destitute girl children in the State. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who wanted to upgrade the status of girl children and women, was keen on undertaking the initiative, Mr. Chatterjee said. – PTI