Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi on August 16, 2017, gave its its approval for raising Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) of up to Rs 9,020 crore as per the requirement during 2017-18 by NABARD through issuance of Bonds for ensuring lending rate of 6% per annum (pa) in respect of borrowings for implementation of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) works of 99 on going prioritized irrigation projects along with their command area development (CAD) works under PMKSY.
A large number of major and medium irrigation projects taken up under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) are languishing mainly due to inadequate provision of funds. During 2016-17, 99 ongoing projects under PMKSY- AIBP were identified for completion in phases by December-2019. To cater to the large fund requirement and ensure completion of these projects, the Union Finance Minister, during his Budget speech of 2016-17, announced creation of dedicated Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) in NABARD with an initial corpus of Rs 20,000 crore for funding of Central and State share for the identified ongoing projects under PMKSY (AIBP and CAD), according to a PIB release.
To make the loan from NABARD attractive for states, it was decided that the rate of interest may be kept around 6% by providing requisite cost free funds to NABARD every year during 2016-17 to 2019-20 on which interest cost would be borne by the Centre.
During 2016-17, NABARD disbursed aggregate amount of Rs. 9,086.02 crore under LTIF of which Rs 2,414.16 crore was released for Polavaram project (without EBR component) and balance Rs 6,671.86 crore was released to identified projects using EBR. Further, an amount of Rs. 924.9 crore was disbursed as Central Assistance (CA) through budgetary provision. During 2016-17, an amount of Rs 2,187 crore was raised by NABARD in the form of Government of India fully serviced bond as EBR. During 2017-18, it is estimated that an amount of Rs 29,000 Crore may be required through LTIF, for which EBR of Rs 9,020 cr would be required, according to the PIB release.