ADB Funds Rs 530 Crore for Tripura’s Drinking Water Upgrade

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to provide Rs 530 crore to the Tripura government to enhance drinking water supply in 12 cities, benefiting around 400,000 residents. Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the ‘Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalp’ (Chief Minister’s Urban Development Scheme) in Udaipur, aiming to resolve drinking water issues for over 75,000 families within three years.

The initiative will cover cities such as Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Melaghar, Bishramganj, Khowai, Ranir Bazar, Mohanpur, Dharmanagar, Kailashhar, Kumarghat, and Ambassa, with seven being district headquarters. Key components of the scheme include the installation of 305 km of water pipelines, construction of 25 deep tubewells, 18 Iron Removal Plants, four water treatment facilities, and 19 water reservoirs.

Saha mentioned that a second phase of the project will extend to the remaining eight cities, including Agartala Municipal Corporation. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring access to clean drinking water and acknowledged support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The initiative follows previous criticisms of infrastructure inadequacies under the prior Left government, which left many residents without proper drinking water access.