5-Year Ibrd Scheme For Orissa

Talking to newsmen before emplaining for New Delhi, Wolfensohn, who was here on a three-day visit, expressed satisfaction over the progress of various Bank-aided projects and indicated that the Bank would expand its activities in the state.

The state government, on its part, had prepared a five-year programme to seek the Banks assistance. Chief Minister J B Patnaik, who met Wolfensohn, is learnt to have requested the latter to accept the proposal. The sectors for which aid is sought include agriculture, irrigation, health, education and rural development. The state government is asking Rs 2,000 crore from the World Bank for its implementation.

 

The World Bank is currently funding the power reforms project and the water resource consolidation programme in the state to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore and Rs 1,500 crore respectively.

It has also provided an aid of Rs 35 crore for the integrated watershed development project (IWDP) now underway over nearly one lakh hectares spread across two districts of Phulbani and Ganjam. Wolfensohns, who visited the integrated watershed development project site in Phulbani district, was satisfied over the progress of the scheme.