RIDF: Nabard sanctions Rs. 331 crore

BHUHBANESWAR:  Nabard has sanctioned Rs. 331.28 crore to the State Government for construction of 12 rural roads and 16 rural bridges, and execution of 228 minor irrigation schemes under Biju Krishak Vikash Yojana and 36 projects of minor irrigation, drainage system improvement and flood protection. The projects getting assistance under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) Tranche XVII (2011-12) will be implemented over the next two to three years. These will benefit people of 23 districts. The 12 rural roads would measure 156 km while the bridges would tot up to 2,345 metres with both providing all-weather connectivity to around 742 villages. Under the irrigation projects, a total area of 34,088 hectare is proposed to be covered under assured irrigation. The projects are envisaged to generate 158 mandays. With the current sanction, Nabard’s cumulative assistance under RIDF to Orissa has gone up to Rs.  6,449.80 crore for 1,31,659 projects in various sectors from irrigation, rural connectivity, animal husbandry to infrastructure development and rural markets.