The project will provide continuous water supply for nearly 3,70,000 people across 10 districts

A USD 96.3 million loan agreement has been signed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India to strengthen the state of Himachal Pradesh's water supply and sanitation systems and offer clean drinking water.

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

More than 90% of the state's rural population have access to drinking water, but the water supply infrastructure needs revamping for efficient and improved service quality.

According to an official press release, a continuous water supply for nearly 3,70,000 people across 10 districts will be provided by the ADB project, which will link 75,800 homes to the service. The project is to build 48 groundwater wells, 80 surface water intake facilities, 109 water treatment plants, 117 pumping stations, and 3,000 km of water distribution pipes in order to improve water supply and sanitary services.

The initiative would increase the capability of the gram panchayat (local government) water and sanitation committees in villages and the Jal Shakti Vibhag of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Apart from introducing a state-level asset management system and district asset management plans, it will also assist the state government's adjustments to its water tariff policy.

The official press release quoted Mishra as saying that the project will upgrade water supply infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity to ensure safe, sustainable, and inclusive rural water supply and sanitation services. He noted that the project is in line with the goals of the government of India's Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024.

He added, "ADB's involvement in the project will provide water management best practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and guide tariff reform."

He went on to say, "These interventions will address the government’s aim of providing uninterrupted pressurised water supply to households, inclusive sanitation services, strengthening operation and maintenance for sustainable service delivery, and building capacity of relevant staff."