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Economic development

India and ADB Sign $125 Million Loan for Assam Urban Development Project

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a loan agreement worth $125 million to enhance urban liveability and boost climate resilience in six district headquarters and Guwahati, Assam. The project aims to benefit 360,000 residents by delivering continuous metered water supply and upgrading stormwater management systems. With a strong emphasis on supporting women and girls, the project will also provide training to women self-help groups, establish internships for college-age women, and conduct school outreach programs to promote awareness of water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Key Takeaways:

  • The project involves a loan agreement worth $125 million between the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for enhancing urban liveability and climate resilience in Assam.
  • The project will benefit 360,000 residents by delivering continuous metered water supply and upgrading stormwater management systems.
  • Key infrastructure investments include the construction of six water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 72 million litres per day and 800 km distribution pipelines in six district headquarters.
  • The project will also deploy a real-time monitoring system to maintain nonrevenue water below 20%.
  • In Guwahati, the project will enhance stormwater management in the Bahini Basin with flood diversion channels, upgraded drainage systems, and a nature-based retention pond.
  • A strong emphasis on supporting women and girls is embedded in the project, with activities including training women self-help groups in water operations, establishing internships for college-age women, and conducting school outreach programs.
  • The project will also establish the Assam State Institute for Urban Development in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and roll out a GIS-based property tax database, digital water billing systems, and a volumetric water tariff structure across project towns.
  • Mio Oka, Country Director, India Resident Mission, for ADB, and Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance for the Government of India, were the signatories to the loan agreement.
  • The project seeks to strengthen urban governance through institutional reforms and capacity building.

Statistics:

  • $125 million: The loan agreement amount between the Government of India and the ADB for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project.
  • 360,000: The number of residents who will benefit from the project.
  • 72 million litres: The combined capacity of the six water treatment plants.
  • 800 km: The length of the distribution pipelines in the six district headquarters.
  • 20%: The target for nonrevenue water to be maintained through the real-time monitoring system.

Sources:

  • The Government of India
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Global Data Point
  • SyndiGate Media Inc.

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