NABARD sanctions Rs 104.61 crore for RIDF projects in HP

Shimla, Sep 19 (UNI) National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 104.61 crore during April to September to Himachal Pradesh.

Chief General Manager S T Raghuraman today said in a press release here that Rs 47.58 crore would go for laying of 39 rural roads, Rs 22.86 crore for construction of 12 bridges, Rs 16.73 crore for 79 minor irrigation and water harvesting projects and Rs 17.44 crore for 37 Water Supply Schemes under Tranche- XIII of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

The commulative sanction from NABARD aggregated Rs 1617.69 crore under RIDF to the state, of which Rs 1031.84 crore had already been disbursed.

He said it is envisaged that 268.93 kilometers of all weather and fair roads and 12 bridges with total span of 818.28 meter will be constructed.

On completion of these roads and bridges, about 1.5 lakh persons in 460 villages will benefit directly or indirectly and provide connectivity to 194 rural and urban marketing and 13 pilgrim centres.

The irrigation projects would provide assured irrigation for 2031.68 Ha area to boost agriculture production. Drinking water facilities are likely to improve potable water supply for 1,15,835 persons.

He said in aggregate, NABARD has, so far sanctioned 1254 irrigation projects, 484 projects of rural roads and 169 bridges, 118 watershed development schemes, 31 flood protection works, 1213 primary school buildings, 64 science laboratories in schools, 25 IT projects, 300 rural drinking water supply schemes and 19 animal husbandry centres/ hospitals to the Himachal government under all tranches of RIDF.

UNI