WORLD BANK HAILS GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA OVER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

WORLD BANK HAILS GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA OVER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 31/01/2012
ODISHA NEWS:


World Bank delegation hails Odisha Government over progress of projects in State. The eight-member World Bank delegation led by Hubert Nove-Josserand today meets state officials. They also jointly review the externally-aided projects in state at the Secretariat under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Panaik.


After the meeting Nove-Josserand said, “We saw the progress in two projects — the Community Tank Management project and the Rural Livelihood project — especially in the area of community mobilising and training.” Hubert said, “The utilisation of funds needs to be speeded up across all projects. Implementation of State Road Project needs substantial improvement.” It should be noted that three of its projects being implemented with an estimated $404.8 million.

Stating that an eight-point action plan has been identified and a World Bank team would be visiting the State in February to further review on the progress of the projects, he said and added that the State Government has assured that the raised by the team would receive special attention and would be addressed on an urgent basis.

Hubert indicated that World Bank was keen on providing assistance for Odisha in the implementation of projects in the sectors like infrastructure, social development and livelihood development sectors.

The Chief Secretary said the utilisation of funds during the last three financial years had been around hundred per cent and the State Government was taking all possible steps to complete the project in the stipulated time frame so as to get more external aid for new projects.

Patnaik said the Government has proposed three new projects Water Management, Urban and Mining Sector Development to the Department of Economic Affairs to consider and pose the World Bank for aid.

The State Government conducted a joint review of all externally aided projects of World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Department amounting to around `9,500 crore. During the review, the International Finance Corporation representative made a presentation on how the state can improve its business environment and leverage the investments from the private sector and the development potential of its entrepreneurs.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA