The Central Government on Friday inked agreements with the World Bank to avail the International Development Association (IDA) assistance of $153 million for the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project.
The financing agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, on behalf of the Central Government and Michael Haney, Acting Country Director (India) on behalf of the World Bank in New Delhi. Similarly, the project agreement was signed by Upendra Nath Behera, Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha. Finance Ministry officers and representatives of the State Government and the World Bank were present.
The objective of the project is to restore and improve housing and public services in targeted communities of Odisha, and increase the capacity of the State entities to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis of emergency.
Around 1,50,000 cyclone-affected people of the coastal areas in Ganjam, Puri and Khordha districts will directly be benefited in the housing reconstruction programme to be taken up under the project. The beneficiaries include 50 per cent women and about 30,000 slum dwellers of Brahmapur.
In addition, the total population of Brahmapur, around 3,50,000, will benefit either directly or indirectly from the improvements expected to result from the master plans.
The project will have five components, Resilient Housing Reconstruction and Community Infrastructure, Urban Infrastructure in Berhampur, Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Management, Implementation Support and the Contingent Emergency Response. The project focuses on enhancing the disaster risk management systems. In addition, it will help build institutional capacity to prepare for and manage the impact of natural disasters.