From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned the second tranche of financing for improvement of basic infrastructures in the Northeastern state capitals including Shillong.
The loan amounting to 200 million dollar would be for five state capital cities- Shillong, Aizawl , Kohima , Gangtok and Agartala. The first tranche of finance was given in 2009 and the second one was signed with the state governments here recently.
ADB’s Board of Directors had approved the multi-tranche financing facility for the Northeastern Region Capital Cities Development Investment Program.
It will be used to upgrade basic infrastructure, such as water supply and sanitation in the state capitals.
Under the waste management project, sewer pipelines will be laid in order to carry the sewage from individual houses to the sewerage treatment plant (STP) and manholes will be provided at suitable intervals so as to facilitate regular cleaning and inspection.
Under the programme, segregation of solid waste will be done at the source, while the method of door-to-door house collection will be done by waster collectors, primary collection vehicles and mobile garbage bins.
Upon completion, the project will be benefiting an estimated 1.2 million people and this is one of the largest externally-funded infrastructure investments ever seen in the region. In case of Meghalaya these funds will be utilised for the ongoing solid waste management programme.
The Northeast India has suffered from a dearth of investment because of its remote, mountainous location, long distance from markets, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and limited private sector interest, a statement from the ADB said. However, plans for transport projects to link the capital cities and India’s drive to increase trade with neighbouring states offer it new opportunities for development according to the statement.
The loan facility from ADB’s ordinary capital resources will be made available in three or more tranches over the duration of the programme implementation period from 2009 until 2015. The loans will be priced in accordance with ADB’s LIBOR-based lending facilities.