Bhubaneswar: The first meeting of the High Power Committee (HPC) on Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for the financial year 2025-26 was held on Thursday at Lok Seva Bhawan. The meeting was chaired Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to Govt. of Odisha.
DC-cum-ACS, Garg upon reviewing achievement of RIDF projects, being implemented by different departments with support of NABARD and State Government, suggested valuable inputs and urged to expedite execution of ongoing projects to complete within stipulated time.
Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Saswata Mishra, senior officials from different departments and CGM, NABARD with his team were present and participated in the discussion.
During FY 2024-25, Odisha became No.1 in the country in execution of projects under RIDF. NABARD disbursed concessional loan of Rs.3836.34 crores to Odisha for creation of rural Infrastructure during the Financial Year.
It has been reported that, among the notable projects, the in-stream Storage Structure constructed under the Water Resources Department at Jakameripalli in Ramanadi of Ganjam District has been completed with an expenditure of Rs.34.90 Crore. This project will provide drinking water facilities to 16,500 people in 11 villages of the Digapahandi block. Similarly, several other significant infrastructure projects have been completed though LIP, MIP, OLIC, Mega Lift and CAD under DoWR.
Among other achievements, an HL Bridge over the Haripur Nalla in Angul district has been constructed at a cost of Rs.39.89 crore with a length of 511 meters, executed by the Works Department.
In the Malkangiri district, a road has been completed from NH-326 to (Koikanda) to Peta Road for 6.80 km length at a cost of Rs.596.54 lakh, work done through RD( Road) Department.
A Mega Pipe Water Supply Project has been installed by PR & DW Department in Rairakhol Block of Sambalpur district, at a cost of Rs.113.98 crore, which will benefit approximately 8,500 residents from 9 gram panchayats of the area.
The Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department has executed a number of Micro River Lift projects (Jalanidhi-II) for the benefit of individual beneficiaries.
NABARD officials put forth their field visit reports and commended the performance of different executing departments.
In the meeting, it was also learnt that the Government of India has approved a loan of 150.89 Crore rupees for 3425 projects under the Micro-Irrigation Fund (MIF) and NABARD has been advised to sanction the loan at the earliest. Similarly, discussion was held on approval of 9 project proposals under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
Considering the excellent performance of Odisha, HPC advised NABARD to sanction more projects under RIDF for the year 2025-26.
