State seeks $200 m World Bank aid

  • 18/02/2008

  • Deccan Herald

Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao has said the State has sought $200 million more assistance from the World Bank for the Karnataka-State Highway Improvement Project (K-SHIP II). Rao told reporters here on Monday that the Department of Economic Affairs has already given its nod for getting a loan of $200 million from the WB for K-SHIP II. "In addition to this we have sought $200 million more assistance', he added. The Centre has also given its approval for getting a loan of $300 million from the Asian Development Project (ADB) for the same project ie K-SHIP II. Rao said he would visit Delhi on February 20 to meet the Union Cabinet Secretary on State's pending project proposals before the Centre. As many as 19 major projects related to power, road, rail, airport etc., were pending before the Centre. Among the power projects, he would mainly discuss about the delay in commissioning of the Bellary Thermal Power Project I due to the delay in setting up coal handling unit by the public sector owned BHEL. On shifting of the ultra mega power project proposed at Tadadi in Uttar Kannada district following protests from the local people against the project, Rao said no final decision has been taken yet. "We are looking for an alternate site which has good port connectivity for importing coal', he added. Rao said in addition to the airports proposed at Gulbarga, Bijapur and Hassan, he would also discuss about setting up an airport at Karwar where the sea bird project is coming up.