The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved $125 million to help India’s state government of Kerala better prepare against natural disasters, the impact of climate change, and the outbreak of disease and pandemics.
In recent years, Kerala has been battered by a series of natural disasters. The state, like many others in India, has also been hit hard by COVID-19, placing further strain on an already fragile disaster management system.
The joint program will bolster local disaster resilience plans and improve water resource management in the flood-prone Pamba River Basin. The investment will also be channeled toward digital technology to improve surveillance and help Kerala better deal with and prepare for the outbreak of zoonotic disease and pandemics.
A key component of the program includes climate-resilient development in infrastructure sectors such as urban development, flood management and roads. Up to $75 million of AIIB’s loan portion w