Four municipalities may get ADB support

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Aug 30: The government has approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to launch urban development programs in four cities of the country.

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) has initiated dialogue with the officials of the ADB to execute infrastructure development programs in Nepalgunj, Janakpur, Dharan and Bhairahawa municipalities.

“We have proposed the ADB officials to support us in the development of infrastructures in the four municipalities. As per the preliminary negotiation, ADB is positives to support $50 million for the purpose,” Kamal Raj Pandey, joint secretary at the MoPPW, told myrepublica.com on Monday.

He further added that ADB would also extend its support to Project Preparatory Technical Assistance before the implementation of the program in those municipalities.

The multilateral donor has already expressed commitment to provide $60 million for the Secondary Town Integrated Urban Environmental Implementation Project to be launched in six other municipalities.

The government and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) are also supporting the project. OFID has agreed to provide $17 million, while the government is chipping in $20 million for the implementation of four-year project.

“The ADB´s board has already approved the assistance and the cabinet will approve the project once the National Planning Commission gives its nod,” Pandey said.

Butwal, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Panauti, Dhulikhel and Banepa municipalities have been selected to implement the project.

The project will support for the development of infrastructures such as sewage, roads and water supply system, among others, which are included in the periodic plans of the concerned municipalities.