Bhubaneswar: The second meeting of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) High Power State Committee was held on Friday, chaired by the Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
The meeting focused on the progress of various projects in Odisha, funded by RIDF through different departments such as Water Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development.
The committee reviewed the expenditure on projects in the state budget as of the 2024-25 financial year. They also discussed projects successfully completed using RIDF funds and reviewed the progress of projects sanctioned by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
NABARD authorities were advised to provide funds for new projects in Odisha. The meeting also discussed projects under the Micro Irrigation Fund and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Livestock Development Fund (FIDF). The development of fishing harbours and river basins by the State Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources was also discussed.
The Development Commissioner emphasized the need to complete project work within the stipulated time frame and minimize expenditure. The meeting aimed to promote rural infrastructure development in Odisha, aligning with the objectives of RIDF, which was set up by the Government of India in 1995-96 to support public sector capital investment in rural infrastructure.
