Assam seeks ADB loan for upgrade of various sectors

Assam has sought financial assistance from the Centre and multilateral funding agency, Asian Development Bank (ADB), for upgrade of sectors like power, tourism and urban development in the state.

A strong request was made by the Assam government to the department of economic affairs (DEA) under the Union ministry of finance, ADB for considering another loan for the power sector so as to enable the state’s power department to strengthen the distribution network across the state. The state has also sought external financial assistance for tourism and urban development sectors to include towns like Silchar, Tezpur, Tinsukia and Dhubri under the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment (AUII). Presently, Guwahati and Dibrugarh are covered under AUII and infrastructure upgrade is underway in these cities.

The first state review of the ongoing externally aided projects in Assam was held on Monday in Guwahati. The discussion was attended by PP Verma, additional chief secretary of Assam government, HS DAS principal secretary of finance department, Hun Kim, country director of ADB, besides other senior officials.

Extensive review was undertaken on nine projects – Assam Governance and Public Resource Management Project, Assam Power Sector Enhancement Projects -1,2,3, Assam Integrated Flood and River Bank Erosion Risk Management Project 1, North Eastern State Roads Investment Programme - Project 1, Rural Roads Sector-II Projects 3 and 4 , Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment-Project 1, Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project, Assam State Roads Project and NE Region Community Resources Management Projects for Upland Areas - 2.

“Detail presentations were given in respect of the projects by the Assam government. Fruitful deliberations were made on identifying the factors responsible for delay in some of the projects and suggesting measures for their proper implementation. A presentation was also given by IFC on improving investment climate in the state and North Eastern Region,” said a senior government official.

The team of officials from DEA and ADB visited the project sites of ongoing and completed ADB assisted projects in Guwahati city on Sunday.