NEW DELHI, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Monday signed a loan agreement of 96.3 million U.S. dollars to improve water supply and sanitation services in the state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Rajat Kumar Mishra, a senior official of the department of economic affairs representing the government of India, and Takeo Konishi, country director of ADB in India.
"The ADB and the government of India today signed a 96.3-million U.S. dollars loan agreement to provide safe drinking water and improve water supply and sanitation services in the state of Himachal Pradesh," reads a statement issued by India's finance ministry.
Mishra said the project was aligned with the objectives of the government of India's Jal Jeevan (Water Life) Mission which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024 and to ensure safe, sustainable and inclusive rural water supply and sanitation services.
According to the federal finance ministry, more than 90 percent of the state's rural population has access to drinking water but the water supply infrastructure needs revamping.
"The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 370,000 residents across 10 districts," the ministry said. ■
