The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has come forward to finance the Telangana government in the areas of agriculture, agro-related activities, green-house cultivation, connectivity of rural bridges, social infrastructure like primary schools,  drinking water and sanitation, renewable energy, cooperative banks, micro- irrigation, farm mechanisation, soil testing and mapping, Mission Kakatiya and drinking water supply projects.

The assurance was given when Nabard chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, along with deputy managing director R Amalor Parvanathan and Jiji Mammem, called on chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday.

Bhanwala told Rao that Nabard had been financing agriculture-related activities in several states and also social infrastructure. “Out of the 2,000-odd projects Nabard sanctioned in the erstwhile AP, 959 are in Telangana. Some of these, which are making slow progress, need to be expedited,” Bhanwala said.

Rao agreed to review their functioning. He explained in detail about the concept and theme of Mission Kakatiya and said the  government took up revival of tanks under Mission Kakatiya and Nabard may fund it.  The NABARD chairman agreed to fund the project, an official press release said.

Bhanwala told Rao that once the state co-operative bank was bifurcated, they would lend Rs 800 to 900 crore to the Telangana co-operative bank.  He said Nabard floated a new fund with Rs 15,000 crore for financing cooperative banks in the country.

Bhanwala also informed Rao that Nabard wanted to design a scheme for small farmers and farmer clubs. He said such farmer clubs were to be formed in Telangana. To another suggestion from Rao, the Nabard chairman agreed to fund soil testing and soil mapping in Telangana.

Another area in which Nabard has shown interest is digitisation of self-help groups.

The Nabard chairman also agreed to fund the drinking water supply project and to look into the possibility of funding Pharma City which is a rural area based activity. Apart from this, the Nabard chairman also agreed to fund construction of check dams over rivers and rivulets in Telangana as well as rural roads and godowns in districts.