December 7, 2005
 Japanese Grant for Water Supply Facilities in Urban and Semi Urban Centers
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The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant assistance up to one billion, one hundred and twenty-four million Japanese Yen ( 1,124,000,000), equivalent to six hundred and ninety-one million, two hundred and sixty thousand Nepalese Rupees (NRs.691,260,000), or approximately nine million, two hundred and ninety-two thousand US Dollars (US$9,292,000), to His Majesty's Government of Nepal for the Project for the Improvement of Water Supply Facilities in Urban and Semi-urban Centers in Japan's FY 2005.
His Excellency Mr. Tsutomu HIRAOKA, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Nepal and Mr. Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, signed and exchanged a set of Notes today on behalf of their respective governments.
The Grant being extended to His Majesty's Government of Nepal is intended to procure the products and services necessary for the improvement of water supply facilities in three (3) project sites, namely Dhulabari and Gauradaha in Jhapa District, and Mangadh in Morang District, which are currently in the process of rapid urbanization.
The existing water supply facilities in the selected project sites have been supplying drinking water contaminated with a high turbidity and iron contents, which is not suitable for drinking purposes and one of the causes of water borne diseases. Thus, the local people in these areas have frequently faced an acute shortage of safe drinking water, and, as a result, women and children have to spend much time fetching water.
Under this Project the intake facility, water treatment plant, water purification facilities and the distribution network will be constructed to ensure the high service level of drinking water targeting for approximately 77,000 people in 2014. It is believed that this Project will not only ensure safe and reliable drinking water services in the target areas, but will also help reduce illness from water borne diseases. In addition, this Project will also help increase social opportunities for women and children, such as the participation of women in income generation activities. Children's enrollment and attendance in schools will also increase because of the time saved in fetching water.
These facilities will be operated and maintained with local people's participation in close collaboration with government authorities. Such an institutional arrangement will ensure and strengthen the transparency and accountability of the management of the water supply services in the target areas. Thus, the Government of Japan has agreed to extend this Grant in order to support efforts to achieve poverty alleviation through improved accessibility to basic drinking water supply services.
Considering the aspirations of the people of Nepal, the Government of Japan has been responding to Nepal's request for sustainable socio-economic development for poverty alleviation, which will ultimately ensure peace building and human security. On the occasion, HE Mr. HIRAOKA also expressed his sincere hope that this Project will prove yet another milestone in strengthening the existing friendly relationship between Japan and the Kingdom of Nepal.
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