The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has sanctioned West Bengal Rs 857.81 crore during the year 2009-10 so far, the highest ever sanctioned to the State under Rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF). Recently, it has sanctioned Rs 197.51 crore under the fund, which includes Rs. 10.19 crore for cost escalations in respect of earlier tranches, to the state government.
The projects sanctioned by Nabard includes construction of brick paved roads, bridges, development of agricultural farms rural markets, rural industrial estate projects, and one joint forest management project.
For improving rural connectivity in the Sundarban area, an amount of Rs 40.69 crore has been sanctioned for 19 brick-paved road projects in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts. A road length of 218 km is expected to be created under these projects. Non-recurring employment generation is expected to be 15.26 lakh man days and the projects would benefit 208 villages, according to a press release by Nabard.
An amount of Rs. 12.52 cr has been sanctioned for nine rural bridge projects in Bardhaman, Malda and Paschim Medinipur districts of the State. A total bridge length of 289.14 metres will be created under these projects. The non-recurring employment generation under this is expected to be 5.31 lakh man days and the projects would benefit a population of 1.03 lakh in 78 villages.
In order to improve state agricultural farms, and provide proper storage facilities for seeds and fertilizers, while ensuring supply of quality seeds to farmers, an amount of Rs 34.86 crore has been sanctioned for infrastructure development of 35 agriculture farms. The farms are expected to benefit 6.15 lakh farmers in Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Howrah and Paschim Medinipur districts. Non-recurring employment generation is expected to be 11.01 lakh man days
Also, an amount of Rs 23.57 crore has been sanctioned to establish two industrial estates and one garment and textile Park in Birbhum and South 24 Parganas districts.
