Asian Development Bank assisted North Eastern Urban Development Programme Phase-I

In order to fast track development of capital cities in the North East, the Government of India has approved the Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted North Eastern Region Urban Development Programme Phase-I at an estimated cost of Rs.1371.4 crores. The programme will be implemented over a period of 6-7 years and will cover the cities of Agartala, Meghalaya, Aizawl, Kohima and Gangtok. The programme shall support infrastructure components of water supply, sewerage and solid waste management. In addition, institutional development and capacity development components have also been included.

The water supply component will include upgradation and rehabilitation of the existing distribution network, augmentation of treatment capacity, replacement of old and inefficient machinery and equipment etc. In respect of solid waste management, the components will include improvement of collection efficiency in accordance with Solid Waste Handling Rules, introduction of house to house collection system, development of new disposal sites and composite plants, etc. in respect of sewerage and sanitation, underground sewerage system, provision of low cost sanitation facilities, construction of sewerage treatment plants etc., would be covered. The project management and capacity development programme would include non-revenue water reduction programme, power and water audits, support for introduction of double accounting system, support for preparation of GIS based property tax system, asset management improvement in utilities etc.

The expected outcomes are increased access to better urban services for the 1.5 million people expected to be living in the programme cities by 2015. Towards this end, the programme will improve and expand infrastructure and services in the cities including slums and strengthen urban institutional management and the financing capacity of urban institutions including urban local bodies. The investment programme will ensure that the benefits of investments are enjoyed by the poor and all other vulnerable groups and that any negative environmental and social impacts are alleviated. In the water supply sector, programme activities are scheduled for completion by 2011 for Gangtok and Kohima, 2013 for Aizawl and by 2014 for Agartala. In the sewerage and sanitation sector, programme activities are expected to be completed by 2014 and in solid waste management system, programme activities are expected to be completed by 2013 for Kohima and Agartala and by 2014 for Aizawl, Gangtok and Shillong.

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AKT/SH/LV