World Bank is likely to fund some of the flagship programmes of the state government. A preliminary meeting was held with World Bank officials with chief secretary Rajiv Sharma at the Secretariat here on Wednesday.

The state government officials gave a power-point presentation to the visiting World Bank officials about the flagship programmes, especially Mission Kakatiya and Water Grid programmes. The World Bank team evinced keen interest in these programmes, according to official sources.

“This is a preliminary meeting. We have explained about the flagship programmes and the money required for the same. The World Bank will further study our programmes and

take a decision on extending financial assistance,” an official who attended the meeting told Express.

Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma presented broad outlines of the government’s priorities and the flagship programmes that are being undertaken for achieving accelerated growth and development in the state.

Secretaries of finance and planning departments explained the overall scenario of the state and the financial strengths and challenges that the new state is facing.

The World Bank officials were happy with the presentation and evinced keen interest in these programmes and promised to consider partnering some of the projects, sources said.

The state government estimated that it requires a whopping Rs 45,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya for restoration of irrigation water tanks in the state, in the next five years.

The Water Grid project, which aims at providing piped water supply to all households in the state, requires around Rs 40,000 crore in the next four years.

The state government has already contacted various financial institutions seeking funds for these two projects. As the Mission Kakatiya is all set to change the agri-economic scenario of the state and it was considered a productive work, the state was banking on World Bank funds for the same