The Government of Nepal and the Manila based Asian Development Bank on Friday inked loan and grant agreements amounting to 777.6 million US Dollar (equivalent to NRs 105.59 billion) for the financing of the implementation of three projects and a programme including Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project phase 2. The other three projects include South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Electricity Transmission and Distribution Strengthening Project and Green, Resilient, Inclusive Development (GRID) Programme and Irrigation Modernization Enhancement Project (IMEP).
At a programme organized in Kathmandu on Friday, Finance Secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, and Country Director of the Nepal Resident Mission, ADB, Arnaud Cauchois, signed the agreement on the behalf of the Government of Nepal and ADB respectively, according to a press release.
The Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project (phase 2) aims to secure safe and reliable water supply services for people in the Kathmandu Valley. It includes the relocation and construction of the Melamchi intake, construction of long tunnel and the expansion of the Sundarijal Water Treatment Plant.
Similarly, the project—SASEC Electricity Transmission and Distribution Strengthening Project focuses on meeting Nepal’s growing energy demands while supporting green electricity exports.
Likewise, the GRID programme aims to assist in implementing the Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development approach by addressing policy, regulatory and institutional barriers to unlock sustainable investment opportunities across various sectors. The programme’s objective is to ensure that development activities are environmentally sustainable, resilient and inclusive.
The Irrigation Modernization Enhancement Project (IMEP) focuses on modernizing surface water irrigation systems of Nepal and piloting hill lift irrigation. It will directly benefit families of project area enhancing agricultural productivity and climate resilience.
