From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 27: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a US $ 65.5 million loan agreement with Karnataka for the State’s ambitious project to check coastal erosion, which has become a big hazard for the people of coastal districts.
The US $ 65.5 million loan is part of the US $ 250 million financing facility under the Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Programme.
The agreement was signed in Delhi by Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Finance Ministry, and ADB’s Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama in Bengaluru.
The financing will be used to address the immediate coastal protection needs and for strengthening institutional capacity of Karnataka’s public works, ports and inland water transport department.
Coastal sea erosion in the State, where the project is focussed, poses a high risk to human well-being, economic development and ecological integrity through loss of land, infrastructure and business opportunities.
Under increasing threat from climate change impacts, coastal protection and management has evolved as a major challenge to development.
The ADB said the second tranche loan from ADB’s ordinary capital resources has a 20-year term for the State.