Appreciating the outcome of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Phase-I activities in Odisha, the World Bank has offered its support for extension of the project in the state.
Odisha was among the three states like Gujarat and West Bengal, which were implementing the ICZMP project. In the performance outcome of World Bank so far, Odisha was the leading state. Coastal Zone Management Society of Odisha has been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for monitoring the implementation of the project.
A three-member expert team of the World Bank under the leadership of Paula Caballero, Senior Director Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice, expressed its satisfaction over implementation of the Phase-I of the ICZMP in the state, an official release issued by the Chief Secretary’s office said.
“Caballero said the outcomes of the ICZM interventions taken up during Phase-I in Odisha has been quite impressive and encouraging. She offered to extend further World Bank support for the interventions like capacity building, scientific management of fishery resources, eco-management in coastal industrial sites like Paradip,” the release said.
Odisha Chief Secretary Mr.A P Padhi said the state would like to have World Bank support in development of infrastructure for fishery, eco-tourism and livelihood promotion activities.
He said the best practices developed during Phase-I interventions should be replicated and scaled up during Phase-II of the project.
In Phase-I, near about 180 km of coastal area has been covered. The state government has proposed to extend the project to another 300 km of coastal zone in the second phase.
The Phase-II proposal has been submitted to the Centre. Senior officers present in the meeting also raised concerns about delay in release of funds from the Centre for implantation of Phase-I activities.
The Phase-I project period has been scheduled up to 2017
with a revised financial outlay of Rs 334 crore.
Major interventions taken up in the project include strengthening of Wetland Research and Training Centre at Chilika, Protection Measures for control of coastal erosion at Pentha in Kendrapara district, conservation of Biodiversity and Livelihood Security through eco-tourism, Alternative Livelihood for coastal fishermen, development of Participatory Eco-tourism at Chilika and Tampara, establishment of Coastal Mitigation Laboratory at Paradip and Solid Waste Management Project at Paradip.
This apart, construction of multipurpose cyclone centres along the coastline, conservation and improvement of Coastal Archaeological and Cultural assets, Regional Coastal Process Study and Choir Training-cum-Production Centre along the Chilika coast and livelihood enhancement support to people through SHGs were part of the ICZM.
The activities were being implemented through 14 departments, urban local bodies and special agencies. So far Rs 160 crore have been utilised, the officials said adding the annual action plan of Rs 7,853.91 lakh has been prepared for the 2015-16 fiscal.
Other members in the World Bank team who attended the meeting chaired by Odisha Chief Secretary were Kseniya Lvosky, Practice Manager of World Bank and Task Team Leader A Ramkrishna.
The team, after visiting project areas during its two-day visit to the state, held discussions with the Chief Secretary today.
(SOURCE AGENT)
Prasanta Patnaik