Safe Water for More: ADB's $101M Boost to West Bengal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional loan of USD 101 million (approx. ₹841.72 crore) to expand the West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project, reinforcing efforts to provide safe, sustainable, and inclusive drinking water services in rural areas.

The additional funding will help develop alternative safe water sources in Purba Medinipur and support new proposals in salinity-affected areas of South 24 Parganas and unserved parts of Purba Medinipur, where contamination from arsenic, fluoride, and salinity poses serious health risks.

Originally launched in 2018 with a $240 million (₹2,002.56 crore) investment, the project has already introduced:

Continuous water service delivery, Over 3.9 lakh metered connections, SCADA systems and GIS-based monitoring

Construction of 4 water treatment plants, 79 reservoirs, and 6,200 km of pipelines

The new financing will also enhance local governance and service efficiency through the Asset Management and Service Delivery Framework (AMSDF), ensuring long-term sustainability and improved delivery at the grassroots level.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.