By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 18, 2016 : A nine-member delegation of World Bank executive directors are on a two-day visit to Odisha to have the first-hand experience of some projects being implemented by the Bank in the state.

The delegation on Wednesday visited Khurda and Ganjam districts and studies disaster mitigation and post-disaster recovery work under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project Phase I (NCRMP- I) and the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project (ODRP).

The Executive Directors also interacted with beneficiaries of reconstructed houses in Upulaputi in Chhatrapur block of Ganjam district affected by Cyclone Phailin in 2013.

Later in the state capital here, the delegation was briefed about the achievements of the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Project supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank.

Besides, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) gave a presentation on its electricity saving street lighting project with support from IFC that ensures reduction of GHG emissions in the capital. The project includes features like meter based billing, remote switching, replacement of existing luminaries with energy efficient technology, and proper inventory management under a Public Private Partnership (PPP), an official release said.

During the two-day visit, the delegation met chief minister Naveen Patnaik and chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and discussed the World Bank Group partnership as well as the overall engagement with the state of Odisha.

The Bank has been active in Odisha since the mid-1990’s, beginning with a successful water resources consolidation project. Incidentally, Odisha was also the first state in India to launch power sector reforms with World Bank assistance and the lessons from this project have had a significant influence on India’s power sector policies.

The World Bank continues to support the state in projects related to health, irrigation and disaster management, and environmental conservation sector.

The bank is currently funding a $250 million state roads project, $76 million community tanks project, and $153 million Odisha disaster recovery project. In addition, the state also receives assistance from various projects financed by the bank to the national programs of the Government of India, the press release added.

Besides, IFC and the State Government are working on a range of Public Private Partnership (PPP) transactions in the health, urban development, housing, renewable energy sectors. The Odisha Inclusive Growth Partnership, focuses on improving the investment climate and diversification of the state’s investment base in the non-natural resources sectors, especially agribusiness and tourism. IFC has also made a few strategic investments in Odisha.