The NABARD has recently sanctioned projects worth Rs1,023.73 crore to Odisha under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). With this, cumulatively NABARD has sanctioned Rs10,367 crore to the State Government for implementing 1.91 lakh projects under various sectors such as irrigation, rural connectivity, animal husbandry infrastructure development, jetties/ passenger waiting halls for inland waterway transport and rural drinking water supply system etc.
The present sanction includes funding for 18 rural roads and 11 rural bridge projects involving assistance of Rs279.02 crore. The projects envisage developing/ creating additional road length of 170.51 km and bridge length of 3,314.29 mtr in the State.
Further, 61 irrigation and flood protection projects involving assistance of Rs326.92 crore, 783 lift Irrigation projects (Tube well and river lift) under Biju Krishak Vikas Yojana (BKVY) involving assistance of Rs95.82 crore have been sanctioned. These irrigation projects envisage to create/stabilize/develop an irrigation potential of 1,44,224 hectares (ha) and under BKVY 17,189 ha will be brought under assured irrigation.
Supporting one of the flagship programmes of State, the NABARD sanctioned 9,593 micro river lift and shallow tube well projects under Jalanidhi II. The RIDF assistance of Rs254.60 crore has been sanctioned to create an additional irrigation potential of 30,457 ha in the State.
As an innovative project, the NABARD has sanctioned one project on Strengthening and Modernisation of Odisha Biological Product Institute (OBPI), Bhubaneswar, as per Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) norm which will enhance the production capacity and quality of vaccine. The modernization of the unit will enhance the production capacity to 20 million HSV and 20 million BVQ vaccines against the current production of 9.2 million HS and 5.3 million BQ vaccines. The facility will help in reduction of cost of production and adequate number of potent vaccines will be supplied for cattle rearing poor farmers in the rural areas throughout the State.