The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka disburses 33 pc of World Bank funds

Commenting on the improved performance, the World Bank Country Director, Mr Michael Carter, said: "Karnataka has surpassed our expectations. This year's portfolio performance has placed Karnataka as the second best performing state, with 33 per cent of funds disbursed and not a single project with in problem status."

These highlights, along with other performance indicators, were shared at the Annual Review of the World Bank-financed portfolio in Karnataka, held on Tuesday.

The review was chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Dr Malati Das, and attended by senior officials from the State Government and the World Bank. The conclusions of the meeting were presented to the Chief Secretary, Mr B.K. Das, said a World Bank release.

Carter calls on CM

The World Bank Country Director also met the Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, and congratulated him on the state's portfolio performance. He expressed appreciation of the Senior Government Officials for their diligent and proactive management of the expanding World Bank programme.

Mr Carter underlined the performance of the state highway project, which could have important lessons for similar projects across India. During the discussion, they agreed that ensuring financial sustainability of investments currently under way, especially in rural drinking water, tank rehabilitation and watershed, would be an important challenge.

The meeting also discussed potential areas of engagement between the World Bank and the Government with special emphasis on rural livelihoods including women's empowerment, disabilities and state highways.

The Chief Minister also expressed his keenness to establish a Knowledge Forum involving all stakeholders for informed and participatory policy making to promote inclusive growth in the state, address rural vulnerability and improve public service delivery through better infrastructure.

Karnataka is currently the fourth largest beneficiary of World Bank assistance to India at the state level, with about $900 million in financial support to six ongoing single state projects covering urban water, municipal reforms, watershed, rural water supply, tanks management and state highways; it could potentially also be among the leading recipients of World Bank funding with pipeline projects worth more than $700 million.

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