Nabard sanctions Rs 159.86 cr for rural infra

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned Rs 159.86 crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) XV to West Bengal. This includes an innovative Heifer Production Project (Rs 8.61 crore) in Kalyani. The project would generate and supply good quality crossbred cows and buffaloes throughout the state to boost milk production.

The project is expected to generate recurring employment of 1,000 jobs per year and non-recurring employment of 3.40 lakh mandays. Other projects sanctioned include 18 rural road projects (Rs 70.26 crore), six rural bridge projects (Rs 35.10 crore), improvement of navigability (Rs 11.76 crore), fishing jetty (Rs 9.32 crore), six rural markets (Rs. 8.80 crore), 19 block livestock development office projects (Rs 8.52 crore), and three flood protection projects (Rs 7.49 crore).

For improving rural connectivity, Rs70.26 crore has been sanctioned for construction and improvement of 18 Rural Road Projects in North 24 Praganas, Paschim Medinipur, Nadia, Bardhaman, Dakshin Dinajpur and Darjeeling. A total road length of 146.42 km is expected to be created. Non-recurring employment generation is expected to be 32.93 lakh man days under these projects. The projects are expected to benefit a population of 15 lakh in 374 villages. Further, an amount of Rs 35.10 crore has been sanctioned for six rural bridge projects in Purba Medinipur, Hooghly, Bardhaman, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. Bridge length of 671.72 metres will be created. Non-recurring employment generation is expected to be 16.45 lakh man days.

An amount of Rs 11.76 crore has been sanctioned to improve navigability of Samudra Khal at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal at Junput in Purba Medinipur. It is expected to generate non-recurring employment of 4.84 lakh mandays and recurring employment of 1,720 jobs per year.

As the Sundarbans is crisscrossed with tidal rivers of estuaries and creeks, water transport is the convenient and cost effective mode of transport. Accordingly, Rs 9.32 crore has been sanctioned for construction of a jetty and water reservoir in Purba Medinipur. The project is expected to generate 3.68 lakh man days non-recurring employment.

This apart, an amount of Rs 7.49 crore has been sanctioned for three flood protection projects in Jalpaiguri district. The projects are expected to generate recurring employment of 390 jobs per year and non-recurring employment of 3.94 lakh mandays. Since inception of RIDF, Nabard has sanctioned 32,032 projects with a loan component of Rs 6,034.27 crore to West Bengal.