ADB sets loan rider

Guwahati, June 28: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has set terms for Dispur to get loans to combat floods and check riverbank erosion.

The state government will have to explain how it could ensure the sustainability of various flood-protectioninfrastructure in the proposed project, senior ADB official Kenichi Yokoyama said today.

The bank released the draft feasibility report for the North Eastern Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Management Project prepared by the Northwest Hydraulic Consultants.
The project appraisal will start early next year.

Of the total estimated project cost of $142 million, more than $100 million will be spent for structural activities that include rehabilitation and upgrading of existing embankment systems and associated riverbank protection works.

“The government will also have to inform us how it will maintain transparency and ensure better service and social participation in the project,” the official, a member of the ADB mission, said.
Eight persons died and more than three lakh have been affected by floods in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts this year.

According to the report, project implementation will require substantial assistance and the water resources department — the executing agency — has neither any previous experience with donor-financed projects nor is equipped to address multi-disciplinary tasks.

Specific attention will have to be paid to capacity development, ranging from leadership training to specialised engineering skill training, the report says.

The suggested project is economically feasible in its totality, including the sub-projects.
The study focussed on four sample project sites at Dibrugarh, Matmara, Kaziranga and Palasbari. Source: telegraph india