ADB inks $96.3 million loan pact with Centre for improving water supply in Himachal Pradesh

24 Aug 2022 , 02:09 PM

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Central Government of India has signed a $96.3 million loan agreement to provide safe drinking water and improve water supply and sanitation services in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The authorities for the Himachal Pradesh Rural Drinking Water Improvement and Livelihood Project were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, who signed on behalf of Indian Government and Takeo Konishi, Country Director for ADB in India, who signed on behalf of ADB.

After signing the loan agreement Rajat Mishra commented that the project is aligned with the objectives of the Government's Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide piped water by 2024 to all rural households and it will upgrade water supply infrastructure.

“ADB's participation in the project will provide water management best practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and guide tariff reform,” added Konishi. “These interventions will address the government’s aim of providing uninterrupted pressurized water supply to each and every households.

The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 3.70 lakh residents across 10 districts. To improve water supply and sanitation services, the project plans to construct 48 groundwater wells, 80 surface water intake facilities, 109 water treatment plants, 117 pumping stations, and 3,000 km of water distribution pipelines. Also, a pilot fecal sludge management and sanitation programme will be implemented in Sirmaur District, which will benefit approx. 2.50 lakh residents.