India : Additional Financing: West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project
The ongoing West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project will provide safe, sustainable, and inclusive drinking water services to about 1.65 million people in the arsenic-, fluoride-, and salinity-affected areas of Bankura, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal (project districts). It will introduce an innovative institutional framework and advanced technology for smart water management (STWM) to enable efficient service delivery in the project districts. The proposed additional financing (discussion of which is at advanced stage with the GOI) will be utilized for the cost overrun of the ongoing project, and a minor change in scope to (i) secure alternate safe drinking water sources for the project areas in Purba Medinipur, and (ii) prepare a sustainable drinking water supply project proposal for salinity affected areas of South 24 Parganas and unserved areas of Purba Medinipur.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Majumder, Sourav
Sectors Group
Request for information -
Country/Economy
India -
Sector
- Water and other urban infrastructure and services
- Project Name
- Additional Financing: West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project
- Project Number
- 58035-001
- Country / Economy
- India
- Project Status
- Proposed
- Project Type / Modality of Assistance
- Loan
- Source of Funding / Amount
Loan: West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project (AF) Source Amount Ordinary capital resources US$ 101.00 million - Operational Priorities
- OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
- OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
- OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
- OP4: Making cities more livable
- OP5: Promoting rural development and food security
- OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
- Sector / Subsector
Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services
- Gender
- Gender equity theme
- Description
- The ongoing West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project will provide safe, sustainable, and inclusive drinking water services to about 1.65 million people in the arsenic-, fluoride-, and salinity-affected areas of Bankura, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal (project districts). It will introduce an innovative institutional framework and advanced technology for smart water management (STWM) to enable efficient service delivery in the project districts. The proposed additional financing (discussion of which is at advanced stage with the GOI) will be utilized for the cost overrun of the ongoing project, and a minor change in scope to (i) secure alternate safe drinking water sources for the project areas in Purba Medinipur, and (ii) prepare a sustainable drinking water supply project proposal for salinity affected areas of South 24 Parganas and unserved areas of Purba Medinipur.
- Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
- West Bengal face multifaceted problems with rural drinking water security. West Bengal is the fourth most populous state in India and its population is expected to grow from 91.2 million in 2011 to 100.8 million in 2027, with 62.0 million living in rural areas. The state faces serious challenges in water security as it is home to about 72% of India's population-at-risk from arsenic and about 5% of India's population-at-risk from fluoride contamination. The potable drinking water services in the rural areas cover only 51% of the population, compared to the national average of 77%, and have high exposure to arsenic and fluoride contamination due to predominant use of groundwater. The continuous withdrawal of groundwater in Purba Medinipur, one of the state's most salinity-affected districts, results in increased intrusion of salinity in groundwater. The project districts are also vulnerable to climate change and disasters increasing the risks to water supply services. The project will support the efforts of the Government of West Bengal (GOWB), through its Vision 2020, and of the Government of India, through its National Sub-Mission on Arsenic and Fluoride, by shifting from groundwater to sustainable surface water in the arsenic-, fluoride- and salinity-affected areas.
- Impact
- Outcome
- Outputs
- Geographical Location
Safeguard Categories
- Environment
- B
- Involuntary Resettlement
- C
- Indigenous Peoples
- C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
- Environmental Aspects
- Involuntary Resettlement
- Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
- During Project Design
- During Project Implementation
Contact
- Responsible ADB Officer
- Majumder, Sourav
- Responsible ADB Department
- Sectors Group
- Responsible ADB Division
- Water and Urban Development Sector Office (SG-WUD)
- Executing Agencies
-
Public Health Engineering Department, Government of West Bengal
Timetable
- Concept Clearance
- 14 Dec 2025
- Fact Finding
- 25 Jan 2024 to 25 Jan 2024
- MRM
- -
- Approval
- -
- Last Review Mission
- -
- Last PDS Update
- 07 Aug 2024
Funding
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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
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Related Publications
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Procurement Plan
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