Climate-resilient reconstruction after flood disaster in Kerala II

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The southern Indian state of Kerala, located on the Malabar Coast, is one of the most densely populated regions in India. Unusually high rainfall during the monsoon season caused severe flooding in Kerala in August 2018, which the Kerala government describes as the worst in 100 years. An estimated 5.4 million people, 1/6 of Kerala's population, were affected by the effects of this monsoon. In addition to the direct loss of life, floods and numerous landslides have caused extensive damage to buildings and road infrastructure, which are of central importance to the economy and society. In a joint needs analysis by the World Bank and ADB (Asian Development Bank), carried out on behalf of the Kerala government in September 2018, the cost of rebuilding Kerala is estimated at a total of USD 3.56 billion. The greatest need for reconstruction is for infrastructure in the transport sector, at USD 1.2 billion. In the future, climate-resilient elements such as road drainage, slope protection and the raising of roads are to be included in the plans for the repair of roads and bridges so that future monsoon rains, which will become more frequent as a result of climate change, do not cause comparable damage to the road infrastructure. For this purpose, KfW is providing an FC development loan (low-interest loan) of EUR 80 million as a credit line to the Public Works Department, which is to be implemented in the Kerala State Transport Programme. The FC development loan thus supports the Kerala government's goal of a green, sustainable and resilient Kerala and also makes a contribution to SDG 9 - Resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization, as well as SDG 13 - Take immediate action to combat climate change and its impacts. The Climate-Resilient Reconstruction after Flood Disaster in Kerala, Phase II project follows on from Phase I, which also focuses on financing the climate-resilient reconstruction of road infrastructure in the Indian state of Kerala.