Odisha has topped the list in Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) performance in the fiscal year 2017-18, said official sources after a meeting held by additional chief secretary and development commissioner Mr R Balakrishnan here on Wednesday.

NABARD has disbursed around Rs 2,512 crore to state government from RIDF against the claims made by various departments during the year 2017-18 which is highest among all the states.

As per the figures presented by NABARD, Odisha tops the list with Rs.2512.36 cr disbursement followed by Gujarat with Rs 2,062.91 cr and Rajasthan with Rs 1,851.39 cr disbursement.

Chief General Manager NABARD, Dr Krushna Chandra Panigrahi, presented the details of funds and projects The meeting held by officials recommended 14,346 projects with estimates totalling to Rs 10,328 cr for the year 2018-19.

Reviewing the performances during the year 2017- 18, Mr Balakrishnan directed various departments to expedite raising of their claims to NABARD against the ongoing projects. He further directed to expedite submission of the DPRs of the spillover and newly sanctioned projects.

During the year 2017-18 a total number of 14,455 projects estimated around Rs.5514 cr were recommended under RIDF against which 2351 projects of worth Rs.2539 cr were sanctioned. Against the sanctioned amount of around 2539 crore, different departments utilized around Rs 3872 crore during the year 2017-18.

Presently, the infrastructure development projects under RIDF are being implemented through the departments of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (1485 projects), Water resources ( 671 projects), Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (175 ), Works (6 ) and Rural Development making a grand total of 2351 number of projects.

As of date 60 percent of the projects under RIDF have been completed, said official sources. Dy Chief General Manager, NABARD Sri Narayan Chandra Pani informed that NABARD Regional Office of Bhubaneswar has bagged the Best Performance Award for the year 2017-18 for diversified project lending in which Rural Infrastructure Development Fund is a major component.