Lucknow witnessed a pivotal meeting on Monday as the High Power Committee convened its fifth session to scrutinize projects funded under NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). Chaired by Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal, the gathering zeroed in on the progress of ongoing initiatives for the financial year 2025-26, underscoring Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to accelerating rural infrastructure growth.
Expressing satisfaction with advancements since the previous review, Goyal highlighted the potential to enhance the state’s borrowing power if exigencies arise during the current fiscal. He stressed seamless coordination between NABARD and implementing departments, issuing firm directives for timely submission of project approvals, reimbursement claims, and Project Completion Reports (PCR) to avert any implementation delays.
A key focus was the animal husbandry department’s proposed model for veterinary hospitals under RIDF. Goyal instructed swift finalization and submission to NABARD for approval, aiming to bolster veterinary services in rural pockets. The committee also delved into ‘Projects Yet to be Grounded’ (PYG) and ‘Slow Moving Projects’ (SMP), mandating departments to furnish detailed reports to NABARD for vigilant monitoring.
NABARD’s Chief General Manager Pankaj Kumar provided crucial updates beforehand, revealing approvals for new projects worth Rs 2,419 crore under RIDF-XXXI this year. Against a disbursement target of Rs 2,700 crore, departments have already received Rs 2,713 crore. Efforts are underway to disburse up to Rs 3,100 crore by March 31, 2026, fueling rural infrastructure in agriculture, animal husbandry, and beyond, poised to invigorate the rural economy.