Watershed development is been in practice in India for more than two decades. Scientific studies and literature has been devising and revising guidelines for the implementation of the same. This literature suggests importance of popular participation in watershed development activities in making it successful. In recent years Maharashtra has seen two major watershed development initiatives being launched one by government and another by Paani Foundation viz. Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and Water Cup respectively. These two initiatives have produced contradicting reports about participation and quality of implementation. This report is an attempt to understand basic features of these initiatives by studying literature.