Govt fixes EAPs plan outlay at Rs 864 cr for 2012-13

The international funding agencies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UK-based Department of International Development (DFID) have been funding 10 projects under health, agriculture, housing & urban development, irrigation, forestry and environment, roads, welfare of ST & SC and livelihood sectors.

However, three more projects would be aded to the existing 10 EAPs. This was decided at a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary B K Patnaik here. "Externally Aided Projects have made a headway in the state recording an utilization of 111 per cent of plan outlay during 2011-12," Patnaik told reporters. While a plan outlay of Rs 510 crore was earmarked during the 2011-12 fiscal, the actual expenditure was Rs 564 crore which was 111 per cent, he pointed out.

The three new projects are: Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund proposed to be supported by KFW Germany, Odisha Modernizing Economy Governance & Administration to be supported by DFID and Dam Rehabilitation Improvement Project proposed to be supported by World Bank.

"Theses projects are expected to come up during current financial year with a total plan outlay of around Rs 52 Cr," he said. Apart from the new projects, the 10 earlier projects will be continued during 2012-13, he said. . The major EAPs which were being implemented in the state include, Odisha Forestry Sector Development Projects (OFSDP ) with JICA support, Odisha Health Sector Plan (OHSP) with DFID support, Odisha Integrated Sanitation Improvement Project (OISIP) with JICA support.