$450 million World Bank loan for Himachal Pradesh

The Hindu , Saturday, February 20, 2010
Correspondent : Sujay Mehdudia
NEW DELHI: The World Bank has agreed in principle to give a $450-million loan to Himachal Pradesh to supplement the State Government’s efforts for sustainable environmental growth and keeping in view its track record and performance for protection of environment.

Giving this information here on his return from Washington after holding talks with the World Bank and visiting Costa Rica, Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the World Bank was very upbeat about the steps taken by his government for environment protection and has decided to supplement its efforts with the loan.

He said during his interaction with World Bank officials along with Forest Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda he told them that the State would carry forward its endeavours already initiated in the field of environment protection and fast-track the initiatives with what it gets from the bank.

Centre for climate change

Mr. Dhumal, who addressed an international conference on environment and climate change organised by the World Bank in San Jose, Costa Rica, said he had also informed the respective officials that Himachal Pradesh would be setting up a State Centre for Climate Change, Disaster Management and Snow and Glacier Studies for chalking out climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. This would be done to enhance the State’s preparedness for tackling natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, glacier outbursts and flash floods.

He said a State Resource Information Centre to serve as a central repository for all data bases on environment, natural resources and climate change would also be established. He informed that the Environment Master Plan, the first by any State government in the country, prepared in assistance with the World Bank was nearly complete wherein spatial vulnerability assessment, sector-wise guidelines for environmental protection formulation and other such measures had been incorporated. Apart from Mr. Nadda, the Chief Minister was accompanied by his additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Avay Shukla, Special Secretary to Chief Minister and Director (Tourism) Arun Sharma and Member-Secretary (Environment and Pollution) Nagin Nanda.

 
SOURCE : http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/20/stories/2010022055030500.htm
 


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