Page 14 - AW MayJune 19

WORLD NEWS

ADB Loan to Improve Water Supply

System in Tashkent Province

he Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a but also improve the quality of life of residents in Tashkent
TUS$105.3 million loan to help rehabilitate and expand the Province.”
regional water supply system in the Yangiyul and Chinaz The Second Tashkent Province Water Supply
districts of Tashkent Province in Uzbekistan, delivering safe Development Project will finance the rehabilitation and
potable water to over 220,000 people. improvement of the VU-1 regional water supply system
Tashkent Province, Uzbekistan’s largest and most in Tashkent Province. This includes the construction
economically advanced region generating almost 25% of 65 kilometers (km) of transmission mains; 27 km of
of the country’s gross domestic product, suffers from distribution mains; 540 km of distribution network; 37 water
pervasive urban service limitations, particularly in water reservoirs; 22 water distribution centers; 5 pressure towers;
supply and sanitation (WSS). Most of its Soviet-era WSS 2 administration buildings; 2 water quality laboratories;
infrastructure are deteriorated and outdated, with about 37,500 metered water supply connections; and 4,000
80% of residents in the two project districts unable to individual wastewater disposal systems—which is a first in
receive municipal water supplies and forced to purchase Uzbekistan.
or obtain unsafe water from various sources. ADB’s assistance include the initiation of smart
“Reliable and safe water supply and sanitation service technology features including supervisory control and
is crucial for a growing area like Tashkent Province, data acquisition, geographic information system, and
particularly in its importance in the overall economy meters for improved billing and increased revenue. This
and development of Uzbekistan,” said ADB Senior Urban is on top of a pilot public-private partnership initiative
Development Specialist for Central and West Asia Jung Ho to invite private contractors to carry out operation and
Kim. “ADB’s loan to expand and rehabilitate WSS services maintenance of water supply facilities in some settlements.
in the two districts will not only provide safe drinking water AW

More Cities in Turkey to Benefit from

Sustainable Municipal Services

he World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today April 2018. This financing comes at a time when the entire
Tapproved financing of Eur 500 million (US$ 560.6 million SCP1 and SCP2 funds are fully committed to subprojects.
equivalent) to support sustainable development in Turkish “Turkey’s growing cities are faced with increasing
cities. This comes in the form of an Additional Financing climate and disaster risks requiring a broad range of
(AF) to the Sustainable Cities 2 Project, the second in a sustainable and resilient infrastructure to provide services
series of projects under the Program for Sustainable Cities. and improve the lives of Turkey’s citizens,” said Auguste
The program aims to improve the economic, financial, Kouame, World Bank Country Director for Turkey. “The
environmental, and social sustainability of Turkish cities by World Bank Group has a long-standing engagement
enabling interested municipalities to access financing for in Turkey’s urban sector and we are happy to continue
their priority investments and to deliver improved services helping Turkey’s cities to expand and improve their service
to their citizens. delivery through this additional financing to the second
The first Sustainable Cities Project (SCP 1) for US$132.7 Sustainable Cities Project.”
million (including an EU IPA grant of EUR 23.125 million), was The project will be implemented by Ilbank to finance
approved in December 2016 and the second Sustainable eligible subprojects in areas of urban resilience and
Cities Project (SCP 2) for US$ $91.54 million was approved in sustainability. AW

12 MAY/JUNE 2019 Asian Water