CHANDIGARH: The World Bank has appreciated the tremendous progress made by Haryana in all spheres of development within a short period and discussed with the Haryana Government its proposals for infrastructure upgradation with World Bank assistance amounting to Rs 12,350 crore for expeditious approval.
 

A 19-member high-powered delegation of the World Bank, headed by Executive Director, India Dhanendra Kumar and including other executive directors and alternate executive directors, had a meeting with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other senior officers of the State Government here on Thursday.
 
The State Government has sought financial assistance of Rs 5587.97 crore for implementation of road projects, Rs 3803.98 crore for power projects and Rs 2956.84 crore for water supply and sanitation projects.
 
The Chief Minister urged the World Bank for early finalisation of its assistance and grants for Haryana's projects.
 
Recalling his visit to the World Bank last year, Hooda said that he had a wide ranging discussion on issues of development of Haryana and hoped that the interaction here too would help make better appreciation of Haryana's developmental needs.
 
He expressed the hope that the visit of the World Bank team would go a long way in cementing the partnership for development between the World Bank and the Government of Haryana. The State Government's objective was to achieve all-round development of the State in agriculture, industrialisation and infrastructure development as well as social growth in health and education.
 
Executive Director of World Bank Dhanendra Kumar described Haryana as a high performance State where the administration can deliver. Senior Manager, India Programme (World Bank), Fayez S Omar described Haryana as a leading State and added that the World Bank had to be quite innovative in its approach. Executive Director Merza Hussain Hasan also appreciated Haryana's developmental strides saying, "I recognise your achievements."
 
Another Executive Director Michel Mordasini said the comprehensive presentation made by Haryana had given an insight into what had happened in Haryana and he was very impressed with what Haryana had achieved on domestic resources mobilisation. He was so amazed that he asked," What has made the story of Haryana so impressive".
 
Another Executive Director Toru Shikibu exclaimed, "Much impressed by the progress made by Haryana." The few questions raised by the members of the World Bank's delegation were promptly responded by senior officers of the Haryana Government who were present at the meeting.