World Bank to rebuild damaged infrastructure, houses in J&K

The World Bank (WB) has expressed its willingness to assist the state government in rebuilding the public infrastructure and houses damaged by floods in the Valley and will also provide support to raise the manpower in dealing with disasters.
According to officials, WB team headed by Saurab Dhani currently on the visit to the state, has expressed its keenness to work on the similar pattern in the State as it did in Uttrakhand after the floods had caused unprecedented damages in the Valley in September last year.
The team has carried out the assessment and will work in tandem with the state government to reconstruct not only the roads and public infrastructure but also offer its assistance in building houses and raising the capacity for dealing with the post-flood damages.
The Word Bank team is currently carrying out the loss assessment after it was asked by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (MoF), last month to visit the State for on the spot assessment of the damages caused by the floods.
The global financial institution had launched the disaster recovery project in Uttrakhand to restore the housing, rural connectivity and build resilience of communities in the State and increase the technical capacity of the state entities to respond promptly and effectively to any emergency.
In Uttrakhand, the WB team had not only helped develop the “resilient infrastructure reconstruction by focusing on the immediate needs of reconstruction of damaged houses and public buildings, but had reduced the vulnerability of the affected population and restored access to the basic services of governance.”
Besides, the rural road connectivity that was lost due to the floods was restored by reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges including village roads, other district roads (ODRs), bridle roads and bridle bridges.
The WB team has also offered to provide the technical assistance and capacity building for disaster risk management in the State with a view to enhance the capabilities of government entities and others in risk mitigation and response.
According to officials, they are also looking at the financing of the disaster response expenses, which have been incurred by the State from the WB. The team will also work to build an efficient contingency emergency response.
A World Bank spokesperson said, “We are currently on an assessment mission to the state, working closely with the state government. The mission will help gauge the extent of the damage caused by the floods, and the specific reconstruction needs”.
He said the nature of support required from the Bank will be decided by MOF, post the mission.