JICA supports in water supply project in Pokhara

Kathmandu, June 11: Minister for Water Supply Ms. Bina Magar laid the foundation stone for the ‘Project for Improvement of Water Supply in Pokhara’ on Tuesday.

The project is being constructed with the financial support of Japan. 

Nepal and Japan had signed a bilateral agreement for ‘Project for Improvement of Water Supply in Pokhara’ on Feb 15, 2017 according to which the latter extended a grant assistance of up to Rs. 4.83 billion for the implementation of the project, which is the first water treatment plant to be constructed in Pokhara.

The Implementing Agency for the project is Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) under Ministry of Water Supply which will facilitate the construction of water treatment plant as well as distribution networks improving the quantity and quality of the water supply services in Pokhara.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masamichi Saigo,  Chairman of NWSC Jiulal Chaudhary, provincial ministers, mayor of Pokhara Lekhnath metropolis Man Bahadur GC, and Chief Representative of JICA Nepal. Yumiko Asakuma were also present during the event.

Minister Magar said that safe drinking water was embedded in the constitution as the fundamental rights of people. This project is significant in order to ensure improved water facility contributing to meet the Sustainable Development Goal on water supply, she said.

Despite being the second largest city after Kathmandu and one of the most favourite tourist destination in the country, Pokhara does not have water treatment facilities and water is supplied to people without adequate treatment.

This project will install a water treatment plant, transmission and distribution pipes. At the same time, the project will reduce water leakage, adjust the water supply pressure, reduce the non-revenue water ratio and take other measures to increase the collection rate of water tariffs and improve the operation system.

The water treatment plant site is situated along Mardi River, while other distribution facility is installed across Pokhara metropolitan city. Construction of the Project is expected to complete by 2021. The Project aims to enhance the conditions of living environment of Pokhara city residents and also contribute towards development of tourism industry there.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 June 2019.