*Enough hints given for ‘adequate’ financial assistance
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 2: In order to reach any conclusion about extending financial support for rebuilding infrastructure damaged in Jammu and Kashmir during devastating floods of September last year, a high-level World Bank team arrived here today for detailed analysis of the losses and preparation of report indicating the areas, which will receive its priority attention.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that a 19-member team headed by Sourabh Dhani reached Jammu this morning on five day visit of flood affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir and to hold detailed deliberations with the concerned authorities of State Government.
Soon after arrival, the team had detailed deliberations with all the Administrative Secretaries of the State Government headed by Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department, B R Sharma and Principal Secretary Finance, B B Vyas, who shared all the information relating to the damages caused by the floods and the assistance required to build up the infrastructure.
“The World Bank team even evinced interest in the infrastructure damaged in the private sector and sought necessary details from the officers”, sources said, adding the World Bank team assured the State Government to support the people who have lost their houses and that their main focus would be on rehabilitation of the affected families, revival of business activities and also rebuilding of damaged public infrastructure.
Thereafter, different groups of the experts of World Bank had separate meetings with the Administrative Secretaries wherein they sought sector wise information about their respective fields like roads and buildings, health, horticulture, power, public health and agriculture etc to explore the possibilities of extending assistance under different components of World Bank schemes and programmes.
Stating that response of the team during the interactive session was positive, sources said, “some of the team members indicated that several important sectors meet the laid down criterion of the World Bank and would certainly get the financial assistance”.
Later, three different groups of the team left for Srinagar, Udhampur and Poonch-Rajouri for on spot assessment of losses. The team which left for Udhampur visited Saddal village that suffered massive devastation during the floods and personally assessed the situation. “It was a shocking incident for World Bank team”, sources said quoting the expressions given by the team members during visit to the village.
This team would visit Reasi district tomorrow before returning to Jammu. The team which left for Srinagar will visit flood affected districts for two days. Similarly the team assigned the job of analyzing the losses in Poonch and Rajouri would reach Jammu after two days. During next two days, another group of World Bank team would carry out assessment of losses in Jammu district, sources said.
On February 5, the team will prepare draft assessment report and on February 6, the team will hold wrap-up meeting with the Chief Secretary and other officers. “During this meeting the team may open up its mind clearly based on the assessment of losses on ground and indicate what assistance can be made to the State”, sources said.
The demand for formal visit by the World Bank team was made by the State Government in the month of October last year following which a communication was also addressed to the Union Finance Ministry by the then Chief Minister of the State, Omar Abdullah.
Thereafter, Union Finance Ministry, which was also keen in getting World Bank support in rebuilding Jammu and Kashmir, took up the matter with the World Bank and finally the team arrived for five-day visit. The team would share draft report with the Union Finance Ministry following which discussions will be held at highest level to finalize the quantum of assistance for J&K.
It is pertinent to mention here that World Bank assistance to any State routes through Government of India.
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