USD 1 bln loan sought from World Bank for 24/7 water supply

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) India has sought assistance
worth USD 1 billion (about Rs 4,600 crore) from the World Bank
for ensuring 24/7 water supply in about 10 cities.
According to officials, the loan has been approved
in-principle by the Bank.
"The modalities are being worked out with the World Bank
officials to launch a pilot water supply project in the
country," a senior official from the Indian Urban Development
Ministry said.
The project, first of its kind, is meant to ensure 24
hours of water supply in these cities.
"We are in the process of selecting the cities where the
water supply scheme will be implemented. There are certain
factors to be considered before the selection and it will be
decided after the discussion with state governments and civic
authorities," he said.
There are only few pockets in cities like Jamshedpur in
eastern state of Jharkhand, Hubli-Dharward in south Indian
state of Bengalooru, Nagpur in westrn sate of Mahrashtra,
where round the clock water supply system is available.
There are certain measures like levying user charges,
installing metering system and creating a water management
system that need to be adopted for implementing the water
supply system, the official said, adding, all these measures
are linked with the World Bank assistance.
Currently, the Ministry is supporting 63 cities in
developing urban infrastructure through the JNNURM(Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) schemes like
construction of flyovers, dedicated routes for public
transport system, development of sewerage system and providing
low-floor buses among others.
"However, there are many cities facing water crisis due
to the inadequate water supply system and we want to address
it with the World Bank assistance," said the official