Bank Special Programmes For Orissa

Mark Sundberg, senior economist for Poverty Reduction and Economist Management in the Bank's South Asia operation. These loans are special and have never been provided to any state before in India. While the $ 250 million loan for Uttar Pradesh has already been approved by the Bank, Orissa is going to avail the loan after fulfilling the eligibility criteria, he said.

Sundberg is among experts from the World Bank who are in India to review the fiscal situation of the Orissa government and told hold discussions with top officials on potential support for the state's economic reform programm.

Orissa and Uttar Pradesh had both started the groundwork to procure the special loans at the same time but Orissa's effort was delayed by the 29 October super-cyclone and a subsequent change of state government following February Assembly elections.