JICA extends Rs 2391-cr loan for Bengaluru water supply, sewage treatment facilities
Japan’s state-run ODA agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a loan agreement with the Indian Government to provide a loan amounting to Y37,068 million (about Rs 2391 crore) for the construction of water supply and sewerage facilities under Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3) (II) in Karnataka.
The project aims to provide safe and stable water supply and sewerage services by carrying out the construction of water treatment plant and sewage treatment plants and related facilities for the residents in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area, including 110 villages.
As many as 3.5 million people are expected to benefit from the project, which would also uplift living conditions of the residents besides helping in promotion of investment environment in BBMP areas.
The Japanese agency said it has been supporting the construction of water supply and sewage facilities and services in core city and surrounding Urban Local Body areas of Bengaluru with Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) since 1996 under phase 1 and 2. The phase-3 project will bring the synergistic effect, by expanding the earlier JICA supported both phase projects, in order to cater the growing needs of increased population.
A loan agreement was recently signed with the Department of Economic Affairs in the Union Finance Ministry and JICA India.
“The installation of water supply and sewerage facilities has been significantly promoted in the core city of Bengaluru, but there are no such facilities in 110 villages of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). With the rapid growth of population and the economy, we are hopeful that the project will provide safe and reliable water supply to BBMP areas, by constructing a water treatment plant and sewage treatment plants together with related facilities”, said JICA India Chief Representative Saito Mitsunori.
“In addition, it will provide an opportunity for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to review and develop a new business plan for ensuring sustainability. I am confident that the advanced technologies, such as integrated SCADA system, will become a model of excellence, by equipping water consumption and demand forecast modelling, flow measurement, and value monitoring system at key strategic locations in distribution network”, Mitsunori added.
