The Hindu : Front Page : ADB aims to complete tsunami assistance projects in 3 years

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 02, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

ADB aims to complete tsunami assistance projects in 3 years

Ramya Kannan

Soft works started; infrastructure works to be taken up by year-end

CHENNAI: The Asian Development Bank hopes to complete its tsunami assistance projects in Tamil Nadu in three years though there has been a temporary break because of the imminent elections, the bank's Principal Urban Specialist, Alex K. Jorgensen, has said.

While `soft works,' including community-based livelihood rehabilitation, have commenced already, infrastructure development projects will be taken up by year-end. The programme also aims at accelerating poverty alleviation and reconstruction in tsunami-hit areas.

In coordination with the State and Central Governments, the bank would work through four components — livelihood, transportation, rural and municipal infrastructure and capacity building and implementation assistance, according to Richard Vokes, its director, Operations Coordination Division, South Asia Department. He spoke to The Hindu recently in Manila.

As part of the first component, promotion of micro enterprise, organisation of self-help groups (SHGs), replacement of productive assets of tsunami-affected households and providing insurance to mitigate risks would be undertaken.

At present, teams are working at the village level to introduce alternative livelihood options and value additions to fishing.

The second phase would focus on long-term gains, restoring connectivity and transportation links — building roads, bridges, repairing breaches, shoulders and pavements and rebuilding infrastructure at ports and harbours.

The rural and municipal infrastructure upgrading project would address water supply and sanitation, drainage canals, building fish marketing, landing and processing areas and making public buildings disaster-resistant.

Out of the $200 million (divided equally into grant and loan components) allotted to India, $143 million would go to Tamil Nadu and the remainder to Kerala. Out of the total allotment, $43 million (as grant) and $14 million (as loan) had been cleared so far, Mr. Jorgensen said.

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