The NDA Government at the Centre signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday for a Rs.284 crore loan for improving urban services and strengthening municipal and project management capacity in several towns in North Karnataka.
The agreement is for the 4th Project under the overall facility of $270 million for the North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Programme.
The fourth and last tranche of loan under the North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Program will help upgrade infrastructure, including expansion of the potable water systems to provide continuous water supply with private sector participation in 12 towns: Basavakalyan, Bellary, Bidar, Gadag-Betegeri, Gokak, Haveri, Hospet, Nipanni, Raichur, Shahabad, Sindhanur and Yadgir. The funds will also go towards the completion of sewerage networks in three towns (Haveri, Hospet and Raichur) and improvements to the road network in 2 towns (Badami and Ilkal).
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Tarun Bajaj, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and M. Teresa Kho, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, signed the agreement, according to a PIB press release.
Mr Bajaj said that the project will help upgrade water supply network, expand sewerage infrastructure and improve roads in 14 towns of North Karnataka. He said that this will help the State improve quality of life in these deprived areas of Karnataka. Water utility operators will be engaged through performance-based management contracts to design and construct sections of the distribution networks, provide metered connections and operate and maintain the facilities, he added.
The programme will support a municipal governance program through the use of geographic information systems for property tax mapping and utility mapping, as well as assist the Government of Karnataka to establish a heritage planning cell under the Town Planning Department, for conservation of heritage structures and sites in the State.
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The complete investment aimed to improve basic urban services for at least 4.3 million people living in 25 North Karnataka towns by providing them with improved water supply, cleaner environmental conditions, safer and faster urban transportation, and other public facilities.
The project agreement was also signed by D. Chandrashekaraiah, Joint Director (Planning), Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka and Arifulla Shariff, Executive Director, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation Limited.