From correspondents in Bihar, India, 12:31 AM IST

The Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain plans to invest up to 150 million pounds in Bihar, a senior official of the British government said here Sunday.

'Over the next five years, the DFID is planning to invest up to 150 million pounds (approximately Rs.1,050 crore) in Bihar on strengthening governance, urban management and health service delivery including nutrition and water and sanitation,' DFID India deputy head Chris Chalmers said at a media workshop here.

The DFID has also struck a strategic partnership with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to make sure that the donor support to the state is provided in a coordinated manner.

'This is an innovative approach to reduce the burden on the government,' Chalmers said.

Last June, the DFID signed an agreement with the Bihar government to invest in the state. 'The DFID's main aim is to assist and help the Bihar government with the governance reform programme,' the British official added.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)