WB to be a development partner: CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said instead of partnering in specific projects, the World Bank has agreed to be a development partner of the state in the rebuild Kerala initiative.
The CM was speaking to reporters after a development partners’ conclave organized as part of the rebuild Kerala initiative here on Monday. The chief minister said the World Bank is associating as a development partner with a state after a long time and the decision will give a major boost to the rebuild development plan.
“The World Bank representatives, led by its country head Junaid Ahmed, have given an assurance on this and they have promised us to invest in several development schemes. The details of their investment plans in each sector will be decided after having detailed discussions with the state government officials,” he said.
Apart from the World Bank, international agencies such as Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), German state- owned development bank KFW, French development agency, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have also promised their support to the rebuild development plans.
Vijayan inaugurated the conclave and chief secretary Tom Jose presented the report on last year’s flood. A sector-wise rebuild plan was also presented before the representatives of international agencies. All the agencies have promised that they will support in the initiative by providing financial and technical support.
Claiming that the conclave was a huge success, the chief minister said NABARD and HUDCO have assured support for water-distributions schemes in urban areas and also for the construction of roads.
As part of the initiative, it has also been decided to set up a well-equipped disaster-risk management facility in the state. Apart from this, the state also wants to have a concrete plan in constructions at high-risk areas which are more prone to natural disasters. The structuring will lessen the intensity of the damage when such disasters occur, the chief minister said.
During the conclave, also attended by senior bureaucrats in the state, discussions on sustainable and long-term projects were held.