Work on three externally aided projects to kick off soon

ADB, JICA to offer over Rs 2,700 cr finance

The state government aims to start work on three externally aided projects this fiscal with funding from international donor agencies like Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

ADB is offering assistance of Rs 1,050 crore for the Odisha Skill Development Project (OSDP) and Rs 600 crore for cyclone proofing infrastructure project.

The tenure of the OSDP will be from 2015 to 2021. Under the project, it is targeted to impart skill training to a whopping one million youths in the 12th Plan (2012-17). The pool of skilled manpower is being created for construction, health, apparel, driving, manufacturing, hospitality and the services industry. The National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) has projected total workforce demand for skilled jobs in the state at 13.5 million in 2026. Odisha, which has drawn investments of over Rs 14 lakh crore since opening up of economic reforms in the country, has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 93 companies. The MoUs have a compulsory employment clause that requires industries to reserve 90 per cent jobs for locals in the unskilled and semi-skilled category, up to 60 per cent in skilled category and 30 per cent for the supervisory and managerial cadre.

The State Employment Mission has partnered nine training agencies to ensure placement for the youths in various demand driven sectors. Together, these agencies would offer diversified skills training to 34,183 persons within a year in sectors like information technology, telecom, hospitality, retail, tourism and security services. These training institutes will have to ensure at least 75 per cent placement for the trainees.

For the cyclone proofing infrastructure project, ADB is offering funding of Rs 600 crore, out of total project cost of Rs 999 crore. Of the total project cost, Rs 280 crore would be spent on transmission, Rs 700 crore on distribution, Rs 11 crore on smart grid and Rs 8 crore on setting up 8 Mw solar photo voltaic (PV) power plant. The ADB loan is meant for cyclone insulated infrastructure for transmission and distribution of electricity in the coastal zone and also for strengthening river and saline embankments.

The project will be implemented in Ganjam, the southern Odisha district that was worst hit by Phailin cyclonic storm in October 2012.

Japanese aid agency JICA is extending loan of Rs 1,074 crore to increase irrigated area in Phase II of the Rengali Irrigation Project in Odisha. The assistance will provide for the extension of the canal from Samal Barrage from 71.313 km to 123.5 km on the left bank besides aiding the development of the distribution system and ancillaries.

The JICA assistance will enable irrigation of 39,416 hectares along the canal in Jajpur, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts, benefiting over 42,400 farmer households dependent on rain fed agriculture.