Kasargod, Sunday, February 5, 2012: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has decided to sanction nearly Rs 100 crore to implement a special package for upgrading infrastructure in 11 endosulfan-hit panchayats in the district.

“The NABARD assistance of Rs 99.63 crore from its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) constitutes 85 per cent of the approved projects at Rs 117.21 crore and the State will have to mobilise the remaining Rs 17.58 crore, which should be disbursed on or before February 19,” P. Karunakaran, MP, told a press conference here on Saturday.

He said NABARD’s approval for the package, first phase of implementing development schemes in the affected localities, was on the basis of the projects submitted to NABARD and the amount was sanctioned after a special meeting with Prakash Bakshi, NABARD Chairman.

The funds would be used for improving social infrastructure such as upgrading hospitals, setting up buds school, palliative care centres, and drinking water projects.

(News agency)