World Bank chief to visit Bihar

PATNA - World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick will visit Bihar in January to discuss reconstruction efforts in areas hit by floods in 2008 that killed over 500 people, officials Tuesday said.

Zoellick will meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his Jan 10-11 visit, an official told IANS.

“He will discuss with Nitish Kumar the government’s efforts to rebuild areas ravaged by the floods,” the official said.

The Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project will finance flood recovery efforts by rebuilding about 100,000 houses, 90 bridges and 290 km of rural roads.

The 2008 floods affected about 3.3 million people in five districts. About one million people were evacuated.