ZCZC
BSS-35
ADB-URBAN-DEV
ADB to provide $11m loan to develop urban water supply
DHAKA, Nov 25, 2019 (BSS) – The government and the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) today signed an agreement for US$11 million in loan to help develop two
priority urban sector projects in water supply and sanitation.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Monowar Ahmed and ADB Country
Director Manmohan Parkash signed the agreement on behalf of their respective
sides at the National Economic Council (NEC-2) conference room in the city,
said a press release.
The assistance under the ‘Urban Infrastructure Improvement Preparatory
Facility’ will help manage the technical and implementation issues upfront to
secure high readiness of the ensuing investment projects.
The projects that the facility will help prepare are ‘Secondary Towns
Water Supply and Sanitation Project’ under the Department of Public Health
Engineering, and Narayanganj Urban Development Project under Narayanganj City
Corporation.
In his speech, Manmohan Parkash said sound technical capacity for project
preparation and implementation, high quality feasibility studies, safeguards,
engineering designs and efficient procurement and contract management are
critical for smooth project implementation.
“This facility will help prepare priority urban projects by addressing
technical and implementation issues so that investment projects are
implemented quickly with the highest standards,” he added.
The project will support Department of Public Health Engineering in
preparing water supply and sanitation investment projects in selected
secondary towns and city corporations where development is lagging.
In target towns, the facility will support the shift from intermittent and
groundwater-based supply to continuous supply from surface water.
It will also support the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) in improving
water supply, drainage, and urban roads. The facility includes support to
build NCC’s capacity for municipal financial management to ensure the
sustainability of urban infrastructure investments, and their operation and
management.
BSS/PR/KUC/ARS/1907 hrs