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Bhubaneswar: International funding agencies, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have extended their support to the calamities-hit Odisha with a financial assistance to the tune of $316 million, an official said here.
While the World Bank will provide $211 million for the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the cyclone-ravaged regions of the state, the remaining amount will be shared by ADB, Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra stated.
The announcement came following a high level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra at the secretariat which was also attended by representatives of the central government, World Bank and ADB.
Accepting Odisha's proposal of constructing an additional 162 cyclone shelter houses as they helped in providing safe stay for people after evacuation from the coast, WB team agreed to provide assistance of $55 million for the purpose, the sources said.
The WB also agreed to finance $ 153 million for construction of pucca houses within five kilometer from the coast in Ganjam and Puri districts and in the bank of Chilika lake, besides slum development proposals of Berhampur town.
The WB team comprising its operation advisor Michel Hanery, and Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Deepak Singh have also promised Patnaik to help the state undertake mangrove plantation along the coast under Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP).
Narahari Rao, Deputy Country Director ADB, and Harish Verma Senior Project Officer, ADB, on their part assured the state government that they would be providing $105 million for installing cyclone-proof power infrastructure (at the expenditure of $ 70 million) and strengthening of embankments ($ 35 million) in cyclone prone areas in Odisha.
Sources said, the Central government would be requested to fund construction of embankments, slum development and plantation activities under its existing programmes.
(With Agency Input)
