EIB Global, the European Investment Bank’s development arm, is lending the Indian government $191 million to upgrade and expand water infrastructure in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The project is the first of its kind for EIB Global in India and covers water supply and sanitation in Uttarakhand, which is undergoing rapid growth in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.
The EIB Global loan will go towards planned improvements in critical water and sanitation infrastructure and will include continuous monitoring to reduce water leaks, automatic meter reading, greater plant automation, real-time remote data collection and new connections for underserved communities. Around 900 000 people in Uttarakhand will benefit from the works, which are due to be completed over the next five years. EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer announced the loan agreement today.
“Improved clean water supply and sanitation systems in Uttarakhand will positively impact the quality of public health. Modern wastewater treatment, leakage reduction and more efficient water supply will benefit poor households,” said EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer.
The EIB’s first-ever involvement in India’s water sector advances the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which aims to strengthen key infrastructure worldwide.
The EIB Global support will extend to water and sewerage connections in Uttarakhand for poor households, where women and girls tend to have relatively high care responsibilities for family members who become ill as a result of intermittent supply and poor sanitation services.
