New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank has announced a USD 200 million loan to improve water supply and other urban services in Assam.
“ADB is extending USD 200 million to improve the water supply and other urban services in Guwahati and Dibrugarh, two major cities in the Indian state of Assam,” the multilateral agency said in a statement.
The ADB board of directors has approved the multi-tranche financing facility for the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Programme.
The first tranche of the loan will amount to USD 81 million and the second tranche will be for the remaining USD 119 million.
Funds from the initiative will be used to provide clean piped water to about 3.5 lakh residents in Guwahati, as well as for major upgrades of sewerage and solid waste systems in the two cities.
In addition, a 10-km-long bus rapid transit corridor will be developed in Guwahati, which is intended to serve more than 40,000 people a day.
“Given the importance of Assam as the gateway to economic development in North-East India, ADB and the government have embarked on a long-term strategic development partnership to improve urban infrastructure and increase state capacity,” ADB Director General (South Asia Department) Sultan Hafeez Rahman said.
Only about one in three of Guwahati’s 10 lakh residents have access to piped water.
In Dibrugarh, inadequate solid waste management and the indiscriminate dumping of waste have choked drainage systems, causing severe flooding in the rainy season.
“ADB has helped the government of Assam draw up a 10-year roadmap for developing urban services and the programme will support the state’s overall investment plans,” the statement said. (PTI)
