NABARD sanctions Rs 735.53cr for Bengal rural infra projects

Kolkata, Jul 2 (PTI) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 735.53 crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to West Bengal during the first quarter of 2018-19, according to an official release.

The funding would help execution of 86 projects, which included six solar power projects, works on one medium irrigation, five minor irrigation and 12 flood protection projects, besides 57 projects of widening and strengthening of roads and five rural bridges.

The grid connected solar power projects apart from generating 88.61 MU of solar energy per annum would be beneficial towards preventing emission of million tonnes of climate damaging carbon dioxide gases.

The works on irrigation projects is expected to benefit 11,554 ha of land besides addressing problems of wastage of water at upstream areas, seepage loss, deposition of silt, insufficient height of canal, which has been resulting in short supply of water in the command area.

The flood protection projects are aimed to address the problems of rapid bank erosion caused by rivers which is gradually engulfing valuable homestead and cultivated land.

Likely 155 villages will be benefited from irrigation and flood protection works, the release said.

Widening and strengthening of 57 roads would benefit 352.81 kms in 14 districts of the state. The rural bridges would save about 82 km distance, the release said.