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Germany offers Rs 720 crore for Rebuild Kerala

He said the project was worked out bilaterally with the Centre complying with the standing procedure in such matters.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Federal Republic of Germany on Friday proposed a massive aid package to support climate resilient rebuilding of Kerala’s flood-battered public infrastructure, which includes a nominal interest loan of Rs 720 crore (90 million Euro).

The package was announced by German Ambassador to India Dr Martin Ney at a press conference here. The package consists of a technical grant of 3 million Euro (Rs 24 crore), for offering international expertise to Public Works Department in climate resilient infrastructure planning to reconstruct roads and bridges.

“Germany is ready to support Kerala during these challenging times and is pleased to contribute to the Rebuild resilient Kerala Initiative. Our common goal will be to “build back better” and to help restore people’s livelihood as soon as possible,” Dr Ney said. The support will be implemented through German Development Bank KfW.

The monsoon had wreaked havoc in the state in August causing massive destruction to houses, roads, bridges and means of livelihood. The cost of rebuilding Kerala is estimated to be Rs 25,000 crore.

“According to my information, Germany is the only partner country to come out with bilateral aid (for Kerala’s rebuilding) so fast, and of such scale,” Dr Ney said.

He said “The aim is not just to reconstruct, but to reconstruct in a much better way so that the roads and bridges in Kerala would be able to withstand the future disasters”, the Ambassador said.

He said the project was worked out bilaterally with the Centre complying with the standing procedure in such matters. The loan will be provided on nominal rate he said and added that the next step would be signing of loan agreement between KfW and Kerala government.

The Ambassador said Germany had tackled situations of river rising and flooding and had rich experience in providing technical expertise on reconstruction of disaster-hit infrastructure.

Mr Karl Philipp Ehlerding, Deputy Consul General of German Federal Republic, Bengaluru, and Dr Syed Ibrahim, Hon. Consul of Federal Republic of Germany were present at the press meet.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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