Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 22: In a significant step toward sustainable urban development, the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $125 million loan agreement aimed at transforming urban infrastructure and climate resilience across Assam. The project targets six district headquarters—Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, and Nalbari—along with the capital city of Guwahati, and is expected to directly benefit around 360,000 residents.
At the core of the Assam Urban Sector Development Project is the goal of providing continuous, metered water supply while overhauling stormwater management systems to tackle flooding and climate-related vulnerabilities. The project includes the construction of six water treatment plants with a total capacity of 72 million litres per day and the installation of 800 km of water distribution pipelines. A real-time monitoring system will also be introduced to help keep non-revenue water below 20 per cent, ensuring better efficiency and service delivery.
Guwahati, prone to urban flooding, will see targeted improvements in the Bahini Basin through new flood diversion channels, enhanced drainage networks, and a nature-based retention pond designed to reduce flood risks and aid groundwater recharge.
In a bid to institutionalize long-term improvements, the project will establish the Assam State Institute for Urban Development in collaboration with IIT Guwahati. A suite of digital initiatives—including a GIS-based property tax database, a digital water billing system, and a volumetric water tariff model—will be implemented across participating towns to improve financial sustainability and governance.
Beyond infrastructure, the project places a strong focus on gender and social inclusion. Women self-help groups will be trained in water system operations, while internship programs for young women and school outreach initiatives will promote awareness of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues.
The agreement was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, representing the Government of India, and Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building more livable, resilient, and inclusive urban spaces in one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states.