World Bank Satisfied With Pace Of Reforms In Himachal

By: Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: A World Bank team out negotiating the second tranche of a Rs 850 Crore development planning loan for Himachal was satisfied with the pace of reforms being carried out.

A two member World Bank team visited Himachal for the ongoing discussions about trance II of the development planning loan. The team has expressed satisfaction in the state reform program and commended the government for its efforts, a World Bank spokesman said.

Himachal has already received the first tranche of Rs 425 crore untied grant as Development Planning Loan for a special category state, the utilization of which discussed with the visiting executives, here today.

Sources disclosed that the team was apprised of the steps being taken to decentralize health and primary education sectors.

“We are satisfied with the state reforms program,” said Mohan Nagrajan, head of the World Bank team after holding a meeting with chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and senior government officials.

Sources disclosed that the government officials laid out plans about handing over the primary education schools to village Panchayats. Setting up of Rogi Kalayan Samithi’s was also reviewed at the meeting.

A government spokesman said that discussions over the state government strategy for utilization of the remaining amount of the untied grant for environment management planning including environment planning for Sutlej Valley Basin were held.

The team appreciated the state for having adopted fiscal parameters over implementing the project.

Arvind Mehta, secretary finance, Himachal Pradesh apprised the World Bank team about steps being taken for making best use of financial assistance from various agencies for development purposes. He made a detailed presentation about various resource mobilization measures being adopted by the government.