On March 24, 2023, the World Bank’s (WB) Executive Board of Directors has approved USD 108 million loan (Rs 8,896,517,496) for ‘Assam Integrated River Basin Management Project (AIRBMP)’ to improve disaster preparedness and enhance flood forecasting in Assam.
- This funding will be disbursed by the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), administered by WB, and has a maturity of 11.5 years with grace period of 4 years.
- It is a part of a larger USD 500 million (Rs 40,890,925,000) investment programme for Assam.
Overarching Goals and Objectives AIRBMP:
i.Strengthen the institutional capacity for water resources planning and management,
ii.Build the knowledge base for informed decision-making
iii.Reduce vulnerability to flood and erosion risks in Assam
About AIRBMP:
i.With a total outlay of US$ 135.00 million, its implementing agency is Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam, Water Resources Department, Assam State Disaster Management Authority.
ii.The project will support Assam to tackle the immediate challenges of floods and erosion while also helping manage its complex river systems.
iii.The AIRBMP will build green infrastructure in the Beki and Buridehing river basins, protecting around 100,000 people.
- It will also benefit around 6 million people in 17 districts of the state, including the most vulnerable communities.
iv.It envisages to strengthen Assam’s response to disasters through improved flood forecasting and accurate early warning systems, including through mobile alerts.
v.It will provide safer evacuation and shelter facilities, including access to climate-resilient flood shelters.
- It will upgrade state and district emergency operational centers.
Key Notes:
i.The Buridehing is a south-bank tributary of Brahmaputra river in Upper Assam, which has its source in Upper Myanmar. It flows westward and passes through the Patkai hills in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, through Tinsukia district and then enters Dibrugarh district of Assam.
ii.The Beki river, aka Kurissu in Bhutan, flows south and joins the Brahmaputra river basin in lower Assam.
iii.The government of Assam has projected an increase in extreme rainfall events by 5-35% and an increase in the rise of flood events by more than 25% due to climate change.
- In 2020 also, Assam experienced its worst floods in two decades, affecting over 2.8 million people and causing an estimated $100 million (Rs 8,234,745,600) in damages.
Recent Related News:
i.According to the World Bank report “Collapse and Recovery: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Eroded Human Capital and What to Do About It”, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive destruction of human capital at essential stages of the life cycle, especially affecting children and young people in underdeveloped and developing countries.
ii.Punjab Government is implementing Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP), a Government of India (GoI) initiative supported by the World Bank, for MSMEs.
About World Bank (WB):
President– David Malpass
Headquarters– Washington, DC, United States
Member Countries– 189
