(a) whether the Union Government have received projects from the Government of Orissa for the development of cyclone hit small and medium towns with World Bank aid;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government have posed for World Bank funds for the development of those towns; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA )
(a)to(d): The Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty
Alleviation has not posed any proposal for development of
cyclone hit small and medium towns in Orissa for the World Bank
assistance. However, the Ministry of Finance (Department of
Economic Affairs) have informed that the International
Development Association (IDA) has approved a credit of $ 46.00
million for the rehabilitation measures in the super cyclone
affected areas in Orissa. The letter to this effect has been
signed and confirmed by the Government of India, Government of
Orissa and the World Bank as an amendment to the World Bank
assisted Orissa Water Resources Consolidation Project on
December 19, 2000.
The project envisages reconstruction and cyclone
mitigation activity in the cyclone affected areas of Orissa by
identifying immediate emergency solutions using ongoing Bank
financed activities, primarily through reallocation of
loans/credits proceeds and amendment of on-going contracts,
initiate reconstruction activities and also to follow
humanitarian assistance programmes. The project also proposes
to identify a medium term action plan integrating coastal zone
management, poverty alleviation and hazard mitigation
activities.
An autonomous agency, the Orissa State Disaster
Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) has been constituted under the
Societies Registration Act, for undertaking restoration,
reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the State. There is
also a provision for direct release of funds by the Project
Management Unit in the Ministry of Finance (Department of
Economic Affairs) to OSDMA under intimation to the Government of
Orissa. The Government of Orissa will bear the liabilities of
funds in accordance with the standard Center-State formula.