$125 million ADB loan for better sewage & water systems in 3 Tamil Nadu cities okayed

The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement for a $125 million loan on Tuesday to develop climate-resilient sewage and drainage infrastructure and water supply systems in three cities of Tamil Nadu.

This loan is the third and last tranche of the $500 million financing facility that was approved by ADB in 2018 and will cover Coimbatore, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.

The financing will support the development of two sewage treatment plants in Coimbatore with 529 km of sewage collection pipelines, install 14 pump and lift stations and build 14 km of sewage pumping mains. In Thoothukudi, climate-resilient stormwater drainage system will be developed.

In Madurai, the project will support the commissioning of 813 km of new water supply distribution pipelines that will connect 163,958 households to 115 newly established district metered area with smart water features to reduce non-revenue water.

In Coimbatore and Madurai, two all-female self-help groups will be trained on the benefits of household connection to sewage collection system, water conservation, sanitation, and health and hygiene.

The signatories to the tranche 3 loan for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.