The Hindu : Kerala News : WB approves additional credit to tank project

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Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

WB approves additional credit to tank project

Nagesh Prabhu

1,518 tank user groups have been formed

It will help cover eight more districts
1,225 tanks will be rejuvenated

BANGALORE: The World Bank (WB) on Wednesday approved an additional loan and credit of $ 64 million to the Karnataka Community Based Tank Management Project. The project would be extended to eight more districts in the State.

The original project was approved by the World Bank in 2002 and so far, the project has mobilised 1,518 Tank User Groups (TUG) to develop and manage 1,681 irrigation tanks. In 2002, the bank granted $ 98.9 million credit.

“This additional financing will allow expansion of geographic coverage of the project to another eight districts in drought-prone areas,” the bank said.

Previously the project covered tanks of Kolar, Tumkur, Haveri, Chitradurga, Raichur, Bellary, Koppal, Bagalkot and Bidar districts. Now it would cover Belgaum, Bijapur, Chikmagalur, Davangere, Dharwad, Hassan, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada. As many as 1,225 tanks would be rejuvenated utilising the additional loan.

A bank official said that “this credit will bring an additional 52,420 hectares under improved irrigation, benefiting an estimated 69,900 farm families, over 90 per cent of whom are small and marginal farmers. In addition, about 40,000 families from weaker sections of society will be benefited from various income generating activities such as fisheries and livestock management.”

The bank said the objectives would remain the same as the original project, to improve rural livelihoods and reduce poverty by developing community-based approaches to improving and managing tank systems. The project was expected to facilitate sustainable tank development, ensure meaningful participation of traditionally marginalised tank users, increase agricultural productivity and farm income, and enhance income generating opportunities for non-command area tank users. Of the loan amount, $ 32 million is from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). It has a 20-year maturity period, including a five-year grace period. The balance credit is provided by the International Development Association (IDA), the bank’s concessionary lending arm, and has a 35-year maturity period and a 10-year grace period.

The project has made an encouraging impact in terms of increased community participation, higher incomes, and employment generation for poor people in the State, the bank said. It has promoted community involvement in the rejuvenation and management of tanks.

The project has expanded access to irrigation, and improved water management practices and livelihoods.

“About 2,50,000 rural households are expected to benefit from improved tank management supported by this project, including additional financing,” the bank said.

The project has strengthened the role of women and other traditionally marginalised groups.

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