The state government’s team of top officials led by Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh today hold a detailed discussion with a high-level delegation of World Bank led by its Regional Vice-President South Asia, Hartwig Schafer on these projects in the state.
As on today, World Bank is having substantial portfolio of investment, with projects worth Rs. 3,160 crore coming up in the state. These projects are in road, water supply, horticulture, forest and financial management sectors. The World Bank team had already inspected Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd. (SJPNL) office and reviewed the working of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), set up for implementing the Shimla Water Supply Project, which is being funded by the World Bank. Team also visited Ramgarh, a suburb of Shimla and interacted with the beneficiaries of the project.
The cooperation between the State of Himachal Pradesh and World Bank has been increasing by leaps and bounds since last few years as today World Bank has total portfolio of close to Rs. 3160 crores. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while interacting with the team of World Bank led by its Regional Vice President (RVP), World Bank Hartwig Schafer at Oak Over today.
Earlier, Chief Minister said that World Bank and Himachal Pradesh have long standing history of engagement and developmental cooperation and first Development Policy loan (DPL) of US $ 100 million was extended by the World Bank to Himachal Pradesh way back in September 2012 and was followed by second DPL of equal amount in 2014. "The objective of the loans is to help the State to move forward on its path of inclusive and sustainable green growth and helps state to usher policy reforms in finance, power, watershed management, tourism and industry", he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that five different programs in the roads, water supply, horticulture, forest and financial management sectors were going on in the State. He said that Green House Gases (GHG) inventory, first of its kind in the Country is worked out which helped the state to sharpen its policy focus towards green and sustainable development. The one program with total loan component of Rs. 1500 crore for overall improvement of power sector is in the pipe line and loan agreement was expected to be signed by 30th June 2022, he said.
Chief Minister said that carbon neutral economy powered by green energy abundant in the State would lead to maximization of returns/savings in different sectors viz., agriculture, horticulture, tourism, forests, mobility, health, water, sanitation etc. otherwise vulnerable to climate change. In view of increasing foot print of transport sector in overall pollution matrix investment support for Traffic De-congestion in two Smart Cities viz. Shimla and Dharamshala by way of Ropeways etc. would also be a great help, he added.
in Today's meeting Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh said discussions were focused on the agenda of climate resilient green growth. “The state emphasized that in view of the new clean development agenda as laid down by Prime Minster Narendra Modi recently in the Glasgow Summit, Himachal has a special role to play and help the country in energy transition from fossil fuel sources to non-polluting renewable sources”.
Singh said the hydro sector due to its very design is essentially required for Grid Stability, which has become a new area of concern due to increasing injection of intermittent and variable solar and wind power into the Grid across the country. “The state requested World Bank for investment and knowledge support in pump storage, solar and hydro sectors of the state”.
The state also pointed out that Himachal is also promoting climate resilient agriculture, livelihood security through integrated watershed development approach, state Environment Action plan and clean mobility in the state.
The state also pleaded that it needs World Bank’s investment, technical and knowledge support in all these sectors. In view of increasing foot print of transport sector in overall pollution matrix, the state needs investment support for Traffic De-congestion in two Smart Cities- Shimla and Dharamshala for promotion green transport for construction of Ropeways and the like, officials said.
Ram Subhag Singh was assisted by ACS Finance, Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary Transport R.D. Nazeem, Principal Secretary to CM and PWD Subhasish Panda, Secretary Agriculture, Rakesh Kanwar and Advisor Planning Basu Sood. They presented every details of various aspects to the World Bank today in Shimla.
Principal Secretary Urban Development Devesh Kumar welcomed the Regional Vice President and other members of the delegation and conducted the proceedings of the meeting.
World Bank team is on three days long visit to review the progress of ongoing programs and to explore possibility of future engagements with the state government.
World Bank team led South Asia Regional Vice President Hartwig Schafer also paid visit to Raj Bhavan where
Hartwig Shaffer interacted with the Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar through video call as the Governor was on his two-day visit to Delhi. He expressed his gratitude for the hospitality accorded to him at Raj Bhavan.
