India, ADB sign $200 million loan MoU to upgrade water supply in Uttarakhand

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $200 million loan Memorandum of understanding (MoU) to upgrade water supply, sanitation, urban mobility, and other urban services in the state of Uttarakhand.

India, ADB sign $200 million loan MoU to upgrade water supply in Uttarakhand

India-ADB sign $200 million loan agreement for Livability Improvement in Uttarakhand

The signatories to the $200 million loan agreement for the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for the Government of India, and Mio Oka, Country Director of India Resident Mission, for ADB.

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India, ADB $200 million loan MoU: Aims

The India, ADB $200 million loan MoU for the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project aims to create urban infrastructure that is resilient to climate and environmental risks such as floods and landslides, ensuring the safety and health of Uttarakhand’s population.

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It will also build the capacity of the state agencies in project management, climate-and disaster-resilient planning, own-source revenue generation, and gender mainstreaming.

India, ADB sign $200 million loan MoU for Uttarakhand: Key Highlights With Details

The India and ADB USD 200 million loan project for Uttarakhand will enhance transportation, urban mobility, drainage, flood management, and overall public services in Haldwani, the economic hub of the state. Additionally, it will improve water supply delivery in four cities - Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar - by developing efficient and climate-resilient water supply systems.

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In Haldwani, the project will develop 16 km of climate-resilient roads, establish an intelligent traffic management system, deploy compressed natural gas buses, and pilot electric buses. To prepare the city against disasters, the project will construct 36 km of stormwater and roadside drains to improve flood management and implement an early warning system. A green-certified administrative complex and bus terminal will be built to improve the delivery of public services.

India, ADB $200 million loan project to improve water supply in Uttarakhand

In the other four cities (Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar) the project aims to increase water service coverage to 100% by constructing 1,024 km of climate-resilient pipelines with smart water metres, 26 tubewells, new reservoirs, and a 3.5 million-litre-per-day water treatment plant. Sanitation coverage in Vikasnagar will be improved by sewage treatment facilities that will benefit around 2,000 households.

European Investment Bank 

The European Investment Bank is co-financing the project with $191 million on a parallel basis.

Static Current Affairs related to Uttarakhand for upcoming exams

• Formation: 9 November 2000
• Nickname: "Devabhumi" ("Land of the Gods")
• Capital city: Dehradun
• Largest city: Dehradun
• No. of Districts: 13
• Governor: Gurmit Singh
• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Assembly: Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly (70 seats) 
• No. of Rajya Sabha seats: 3 seats 
• No. of Lok Sabha: 5 seats
• High Court of Uttarakhand: Nainital
• Total Population Census (2011): 10,086,292
• Literacy rate (2011): 78.82%
• Languages Official: Hindi  *Additional official: Sanskrit
• Other spoken Languages: Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari and others