 |
| |
VOL. 27, NO. 21, February 01, 2007 (Magh 18 2064 B.S.)
|
|
Melamchi On The Line
Asian Development Bank (ADB) renews its commitment to Melamchi Drinking water Project
By A CORRESPONDNET
After nearly a year of uncertainty, the fate of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) seems to be in the pipeline again as the principal donor Asian Development Bank has decided to back the project. The project was delayed a year following the decision of Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Hishila Yami’s decision not to sign the agreement with UK’s Severn Trent Water International for valley’s water management.
Minister Yami’s decision delayed the process of contract for 28 km long tunnel. Appointment of private management contractor was a condition set by ADB for releasing fund. The Melamchi project was given go ahead after minister Yami softened her stand.
The ADB Mission, which left Kathmandu on Wednesday (Jan 23), after days of visits and consultations, has finally agreed to extend loan till 2013 for the MWSP.
A decision to this effect will be made during its board meeting, which will be held in Manila on February 8. Earlier, government and some non-governmental organizations had expressed doubts over whether the ADB will extend the loan, following the stand of the Ministry to prohibit Severn Trent Company, the single bidder for the position of management contractor from managing water for the Kathmandu Valley.
Minister Yami said on Wednesday (Jan 23) that the mission has been very positive and flexible towards the ministry's demands and proposes.
"I'm happy to say that the ADB mission has been very positive towards the current development of the project and government's steps. It has promised to extend the loan on February 8, in the bank's board meeting," she said, addressing a press conference organized at the ministry.
She said that the project to bring 170 million liters of water per day from the Melamchi will be divided into two sub-projects and locals of the valley will be mobilized to win their cooperation for the smooth commissioning of the project. The Manila-based bank has agreed to extend the loan for revised detail estimated cost for Melamchi Valley (Sub-project 1) and Kathmandu Valley (Sub-project 2).
According to new cost estimation, $195 million will be spent on infrastructure development, which will include $96 million for tunnel and headwork, $38 million for access road construction and $61 million for the construction of a water treatment plant. Also, $9.22 million is allocated for social and environment support programs. This includes $6.02 million for Social Upliftment Program, while $45.6 million is allocated for Project Implementation Support.
"We have convinced the ADB mission that there will be no hike in water tariff till the constituent assembly polls. It is another victory for the Nepali government," she said.
As population of the valley grew by 6-7 percent in the last one decade, the demand for water has increased drastically and Melamchi has become the sole hope for the smooth supply of drinking water.
ADB FUNDS EDUCATION REFORM
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said preparations are underway to "take Nepal's school system into the next stages of reform and restructuring with new grants that will make the nation's educational programs more responsive to the needs of an expanding economy".
Initially, the bank has pledged a grant assistance of $8 million for the Education Sector Programme Cluster Subprogram II. This will be jointly financed with other education development partners including the European Commission, which intends to provide 6 million euros ($8.7 million) as part of its contribution to the school sector.
According to the ADB, Japan Special Fund is also giving a $600,000 grant to be managed by the ADB for the preparation of the third and final subprogram of the Education Sector Program. The government of Nepal is providing $110,000 to the technical assistance.
The second sub-program will support the preparation and transition of the country's public education into an integrated 12-year system - eight years of basic education and four years of secondary education, which is prescribed under the country's school sector reform plan.
The final sub-program, which is scheduled to start in 2009, will support the full implementation of the school sector reform plan once it is finalized, financed, and the legal and financing framework is adjusted to a 12-year school system.
The first sub-program, which began in January 2007 and will run until July 2009, supports the Education for All Program and is laying the groundwork for the integration of the current system into the planned 12-year school framework. The ADB provided $30 million loan and $2 million grant for this program.
