December 2, 2003
 Japanese Assistance for Drinking Water Supply in Saptari District
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The Embassy of Japan has decided to extend a grant of twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and twenty-three US Dollars (US$29,923), equivalent to approximately two million, two hundred and six thousand, five hundred and twenty-two Nepalese rupees (NRs. 2,206,522) to the Center for Integrated Community Development-Nepal (CINCODEN) for the implementation of the Project for Drinking Water Supply in Saptari District in Japan's fiscal year 2003 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan.
A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Zenji KAMINAGA, Ambassador of Japan, and Mrs. Sumitradevi Yadav, Chairperson of Center for Integrated Community Development-Nepal (CINCODEN).
The grant will be utilized for the procurement and installation of 194 tube-wells including layer test boring in Birpur and Pharsaith VDCs of Saptari District. The grant will also cover 57 percent cost of constructing tube-well platforms.
Access to safe drinking water is the basic necessity of life and plays an important role in enhancing the health condition of people. However, in many villages of Saptari District, safe drinking water has remained far from the reach of common people. Thousands of people have been compelled to use contaminated water of wells and ponds due to lack of tube-wells. Hence, the project aims to solve the problem of drinking water by installing tube wells and thereby controlling the water borne diseases with safe drinking water.
CINCODEN, the recipient and implementing organization, will contribute technical support, besides monitoring and evaluation during the installation of the tube-wells. CINCODEN has already completed arsenic testing in the project area, and 21 water users' committees have been formed for operation and maintenance of the tube-wells. Birpur and Pharsaith VDCs and water users' committees will bear the remaining cost of constructing tube-well platforms and construction of drainage.
During the signing ceremony, His Excellency Mr. Kaminaga expressed his hope that the project will be able to provide safe drinking water to about 12,000 people in Birpur and Pharsaith VDCs of Saptari District. He also expressed his firm belief that the project signifies the aspiration of the Government of Japan and its people for the promotion of the well being of Nepalese people.
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