World Bank chief to sign pact for rebuilding flood-hit Bihar

The agreement will be signed Wednesday with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar looking on, said an official in the Chief Minister's Office.

The World Bank has decided to provide $220 million (Rs.1,000 crore) credit to support rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the devastating Kosi floods in the state.

"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.

The World Bank president will also visit Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to look into the bank's livelihood project. Bodh Gaya is where Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.