Nabard estimates Rs 8,098 cr for critical infra in Karnataka

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has estimated the prioritised resource requirement for critical infrastructure needs at Rs 8,098.19 crore for Karnataka during the 12th Plan period. Nabard has adopted the theme "Critical Rural Infrastructure for agriculture and rural development" for 2013-14.

According to Nabard, the critical infrastructure is defined as that infrastructure, which if created, will support increased credit flow under agriculture and benefit a large number of people. Critical infrastructure, therefore covers infrastructure having a large impact on livelihoods and income levels of rural population, critical constraints in improving productivity / production levels of farmers and infrastructure that leads to environmentally sustainable development, the bank said in its latest State Focus Paper.

Nabard, based on the above parameters, has identified critical infrastructure gaps in each of the districts in various sectors, so that these could be bridged through Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Nabard Infrastructure Development Assistance (NIDA).

Out of Rs 8,098.19 crore required in the 12th plan period, the bank has estimated an investment of Rs 712.30 crore for last mile / incomplete projects, Rs 4,033.58 crore for projects having a large impact on production / productivity, Rs 726.32 crore for value addition / post harvest management, Rs 1,735.45 crore for rural connectivity and Rs 890.54 crore for social sector projects.

The bank has also prepared the list of potential sectors where investments are required. They include dryland farming, dryland horticulture and drought proofing through watershed.

Karnataka is also characterized by its ten agro-climatic zones, suitable for high value Olericulture and floriculture as also sericulture. Under these sectors, the bank has identified poly houses and green houses, floriculture auction centres and sericulture infrastructure as areas for critical infrastructure.

Nabard has also identified milk and meat processing units and cooling chains under the animal husbandry and fisheries sector for creating critical infrastructure. "Projects for desilting of reservoirs, tanks and ponds need to be taken up on priority basis. Lift irrigation projects need to be encouraged. Water harvesting structures, check dams, percolation tanks among others for providing safe potable water in rural areas are to be encouraged," the bank said.

Creation of warehousing facilities, rural godowns, milk cooling chains, food parks are very critical for post harvest management of produce, it said.

Rural roads and bridges are critical for ensuring rural connectivity, primary health centres, anganwadis and primary and secondary schools are some of the other areas that require investment under critical infrastructure, the bank said.

Presently, under RIDF, about 33 per cent of the funds are utilised to finance core sectors like agriculture and irrigation. The way forward is to progressively shift RIDF funding to core sectors to the level of 70 per cent, the bank added.