The Hindu Business Line : Nabard sanctions Rs 29 cr

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned Rs 28.76 crore to the Kerala Government for implementing rural infrastructure projects.

Part of the assistance, under RIDF (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund)-XII, will be utilised for seven soil and water conservation projects being implemented by the Soil Conservation Unit of the Agriculture Department in Idukki, Wayanad and Ernakulam districts. The projects will benefit an area of 2,975 hectares with better productivity.

The Nabard assistance is also earmarked for one rural road and four rural bridge projects in Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts being undertaken by the Public Works Department.

The projects involve improvement (widening and strengthening) of the existing road, reconstruction of three bridges and construction of a new bridge. The road and bridge projects will result in improved connectivity to 13 villages and 12 marketing centres.

Improved connectivity

They will also provide connectivity to four tourist spots and two pilgrim centres, according to Mr B.S. Shekhawat, Chief General Manager, Nabard.

Another project under the assistance is the strengthening of the infrastructure in the rural healthcare centre attached to the medical college in Kottayam district. It will help make substantial savings in the cost of treatment for the rural poor and ensure them access to timely medical care.

The implementation of all the projects will create 11.52 lakh mandays of non-recurring employment and 77 recurring jobs.

With this, the cumulative sanction of assistance to the State Government by Nabard under RIDF has gone up to Rs 1,731 crore involving 2,663 projects.