Assam urges Centre to be guarantor

NEW DELHI, July 20 - In the face of a shrinking forest cover and rising incidents of poaching in Assam, the state government has urged the Centre to stand as guarantor for a Rs 330 crore loan assistance package sought from the World Bank to improve the forest infrastructure. The ambitious proposal submitted to the World Bank in 1997-98, envisages drastic changes in the functioning of the Forest department, including giving more teeth to its fighting arm - the state Forest Protection Force (FPF) to take on the heavily armed poachers. Delighted at the news that project stands a good chance of being funded by the World Bank, as it has sought a guarantee from the Central government, the state forest minister, Nagen Sarma called on the Union home minister LK Advani, seeking to remove the last hurdle. All World Bank-funded state projects require the Central government to stand as a guarantor.