India : MFF-Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Program

The Multitranche Financing Facility will finance a slice of the government''s investment plan for Assam''s urban sector through the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Program.

The proposed MFF will finance a portion of the urban infrastructure initiatives of the Government of Assam for the cities of Guwahati and Dibrugarh. It will improve the urban services in these cities by improving water supply, sanitation, solid waste management (SWM), and drainage infrastructure to the standards set by the State.

The impact of the investment program will be an improved access to water supply, sanitation, and urban infrastructure facilities by the urban population in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. The expected outcome will be improved and sustainable water supply, sanitation and drainage in Guwahati and Dibrugarh.

In Guwahati, currently, only 30% of the population has access to piped water supply. According to the water supply DPR (2008), the city has been divided into four water supply zones; one north of the Brahmaputra river and three to the south. In south Guwahati, the west zone is being financed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the central zone by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the east zone has been identified for ADB assistance.

Further, urgent investments are needed for sewage treatment given that significant incremental wastewater will be generated from the water supply subprojects. In addition, there is no sewerage system in Guhawati except in some government or township areas. Consistent with the water supply zones, the sewerage DPR (2008), also divided Guhawati into three main sewerage catchments: one on the north side of the Brahmaputra river and two on the south. On the southern side of the river, one catchment roughly corresponds to the water supply west zone. The other covers the central and east water supply zones serving a combined projected 2025 population of nearly 1,500,000. The DPR identifies various sub-catchments including an area roughly corresponding to the east water supply area, proposed for ADB assistance.

In addition to Guwahati, the city of Dibrugarh also suffers from prolonged local flooding during the annual monsoon. Because of the lack of sewerage and inadequate solid waste management much of the areas in the two cities drainage system becomes choked and severely polluted with un-treated wastewater. In Guwahati, solid waste management improvements are envisaged through the JNNURM. This would complement the proposed ADB assistance in providing water supply and sewerage facilities in the city, thereby reducing the pollution load and health risks.

Urban population in relatively poor and weak capacity state (Assam) has improved access to water supply, sanitation, and urban infrastructure facilities.

Improved and sustainable water supply, sanitation and drainage in the selected project cities in Assam.

Improved, regular and sustainable metered water supply in Guwahati.

Solid waste management infrastructure improved in Dibrugarh.

Improved urban drainage system in Dibrugarh and Guwahati.

Project management and implementation skills strengthened in the implementing agencies and ULBs.

Under Project 1, one contract for Dibrugarh drainage was terminated as the main contractor declared bankruptcy. ADB consented to EAs proposal to allow existing subcontractor to continue the balance of allocated portions of works._However, the subcontractor agreement is yet to be signed. Under Project 2, one contract for Dibrugarh secondary drainage has been awarded but works are yet to commence. The package for Guwahati drainage improvement was dropped from Project 2.

In progress.

In progress.

In progress.

In progress.

This is still being prepared by the government.

This is yet to be achieved as the works are still ongoing.

Not yet achieved.

The 2 works contracts are still ongoing while the goods package is yet to be procured under Project 1.

Coverage is not yet increased as the water supply packages under Tranche 2 is yet not procured.

No household connections yet as the distribution network package has not been awarded.

Procurement for the following packages under Tranche 1 is expected to commence in Q2 2014:

1. design, build and operation of intake works, raw water rising main, water treatment plant, clear water pumping stations and allied works in Guwahati

2. design, build and operation of 100 metric tons processing plant and 60 metric tons Sanitary Landfill site and allied works in Dibrugarh