As many as 14 externally aided projects worth about Rs 9877.95 crore are being implemented in Himachal.
“These projects are related to PWD, forestry, power, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, urban and skill development sectors in the state. Under these projects, the state is receiving loan in the ratio of 90: 10 through the Government of India,” said an official spokesman.
The spokesman said that externally funded projects are the roots of growth and play an important role in strengthening the economy of hilly states like Himachal Pradesh which have limited resources.
He said that out of these projects, four projects amounting to about Rs 3,723 crore are being funded by the Asian Development Bank, five projects worth about Rs 3,062 crore by the World Bank, one project worth Rs 862 crore by AFD and two projects worth Rs 1,121 crore and Rs 1,110 crore respectively by JICA and KFW.
The spokesman further said that these projects include three projects of about Rs 4,060 crore in the power sector, three projects of about Rs. 1,808 crore in the forestry sector and two projects of about Rs. 1,061 crore in the horticulture sector. Apart from this, a project costing around Rs. 800 crore in the public sector, Rs. 583 crore in the tourism sector, Rs. 650 crore in the skill development sector, Rs. 315 crore in the finance sector and Rs. 321 crore in the agriculture sector are being implemented in the state.
Apart from this an Integrated Development Project (IDP) worth Rs. 700 crore is being funded by the World Bank for the Forest Department. This project was signed in March 2020 for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain fed Agriculture and Improving Agriculture Productivity and Value Addition for five years, he said.
This would improve upstream watershed management and increase agricultural water productivity in various Gram Panchayats of the state. The project is being implemented in 428 selected Gram Panchayats of 10 districts viz. Shimla, Una.
Kangra, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Solan and Sirmaur of the state, he added.
