Thursday, January 6 2005 14:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: World Bank today (Jan 6, 2005) said that it was willing to assist India in reconstruction work in Tsunami-hit areas and its loan sanction would more than double to $ 3 billion over July-June 2004-05.

"We would be willing to assist India in reconstruction work," World Bank country director Michael Carter said, adding that the bank has no role to play in relief work.

Indian Government has yet to make a request for World Bank loans for rebuilding the Tsunami-hit areas. Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives have already requested the bank for assistance.

The World Bank's assistance to India would cross $ 3 billion over July 2004-June 2005 as compared to $ 1.4 billion in the year-ago period.