India signs financing agreement with World Bank for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project

The financing agreement for World Bank (IDA) assistance of USD 250 million for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project was signed between India and the World Bank on Wednesday.

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The financing agreement was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Onno Ruhl, Country Director in India, on behalf of the World Bank.

The Project Agreement was signed by Shishir Sinha, Development Commissioner, on behalf of Government of Bihar. Aparna Bhatia, Director (MI), DEA anchored the ceremony held at North Block, New Delhi. Representatives from State Government and the World Bank, among others, were present.

The objective of the project is to enhance resilience to floods and increase agricultural production and productivity in the targeted districts in the Kosi River Basin, and to enhance Bihar's capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.

The primary beneficiaries will be rural producers and households in the Kosi River Basin who are regularly exposed to floods. This includes farmers who lost their agricultural lands due to the silt deposits brought by the 2008 Kosi River Flood as well as farmers in the project area that are currently without access to irrigation and other technologies, improved agricultural practices and an adequate transport network.