The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : State seeks World Bank funds for rural projects

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Friday, Nov 06, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

State seeks World Bank funds for rural projects

Special Correspondent

INTERACTION: Roberto Zagha, World Bank’s Country Director for India (third from left), with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat on Thursday.

CHENNAI: The World Bank recently gave its consent for a proposal to construct 17,000 houses under the Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction Project, according to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

He mentioned the multilateral agency’s approval in his interaction with Roberto Zagha, World Bank’s Country Director for India, at the Secretariat on Thursday. The Chief Minister wanted the bank to provide funds for rural housing, roads, health and underground sewerage projects. He highlighted the need for interlinking of rivers at the national level as a solution to resolve inter-State disputes and underscored the role of the Centre.

Mr. Karunanidhi also explained to Mr. Zagha the implementation of different welfare schemes such as nutritious noon-meal programme and marriage assistance scheme for poor girls. An official release stated that the bank had been assisting in the execution of six development projects, estimated to cost Rs.9,760 crore. Among the projects were the Road Sector Project, Urban Development Project, Health Systems Project and the Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM).

Mr. Zagha, expressing satisfaction over the implementation of the projects, said Tamil Nadu was a role model for other States. K. Anbazhagan, Finance Minister; M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister; K.S. Sripathi, Chief Secretary; and K. Gnanadesikan, Principal Secretary (Finance), were present.

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