*Date:27/04/2005* *URL:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/27/stories/2005042702510200.htm*
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* USAID to help develop pool finance structure in Bengal *
* Our Bureau *
Kolkata , April 26
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
Government of West Bengal today decided to work for development of a "pool
finance" structure for urban infrastructure capacity building.
USAID has already helped in the successful implementation of a pool finance
structure in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Addressing a press conference in West Bengal in connection with the launch
of the third phase of the Indo-USAID Financial Institutions Reform and
Expansion (FIRE-D) programme, the State Minister for Urban Development and
Municipal Affairs, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, said the project was still in an
early stage. "We have just launched the programme and will define the
strategies hereafter."
Meanwhile, USAID and the West Bengal Government will jointly promote
introduction of an "accrual-based" double entry accounting system in the
State municipalities, replacing the existing "single entry" accounting
method. Mr Bhattacharya said that reforms were overdue in the State
municipalities.
"DFID is already working with us for urban infrastructure financing and
capacity building in 40 municipalities. We expect USAID to help us to carry
out similar exercises in the remaining 86 municipalities", he said, adding
that, for the time being, USAID had decided to launch two pilot projects in
the Asansol and Siliguri municipalities.
The State Government has sought special support from USAID in initiating a
solid waste management mission in West Bengal.
Elaborating on the scope of assistance to West Bengal, Mr George Deikun,
Mission Director of USAID, said that so far the agency had not committed any
financial support to the State Government or municipal bodies. Apart from
assisting the State Government in creating shared facilities in urban solid
waste management, USAID would help creating improved urban infrastructure,
he added.
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* *
(c) Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/27/stories/2005042702510200.htm*
------------------------------
* USAID to help develop pool finance structure in Bengal *
* Our Bureau *
Kolkata , April 26
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
Government of West Bengal today decided to work for development of a "pool
finance" structure for urban infrastructure capacity building.
USAID has already helped in the successful implementation of a pool finance
structure in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Addressing a press conference in West Bengal in connection with the launch
of the third phase of the Indo-USAID Financial Institutions Reform and
Expansion (FIRE-D) programme, the State Minister for Urban Development and
Municipal Affairs, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, said the project was still in an
early stage. "We have just launched the programme and will define the
strategies hereafter."
Meanwhile, USAID and the West Bengal Government will jointly promote
introduction of an "accrual-based" double entry accounting system in the
State municipalities, replacing the existing "single entry" accounting
method. Mr Bhattacharya said that reforms were overdue in the State
municipalities.
"DFID is already working with us for urban infrastructure financing and
capacity building in 40 municipalities. We expect USAID to help us to carry
out similar exercises in the remaining 86 municipalities", he said, adding
that, for the time being, USAID had decided to launch two pilot projects in
the Asansol and Siliguri municipalities.
The State Government has sought special support from USAID in initiating a
solid waste management mission in West Bengal.
Elaborating on the scope of assistance to West Bengal, Mr George Deikun,
Mission Director of USAID, said that so far the agency had not committed any
financial support to the State Government or municipal bodies. Apart from
assisting the State Government in creating shared facilities in urban solid
waste management, USAID would help creating improved urban infrastructure,
he added.
* *
* *
(c) Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu Business Line