The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with the Indian Government on 28 July 2023 to provide an additional $200 million loan to finance the ongoing Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project. In September 2020 the ADB had approved $300 million for the Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project.
The Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project aims to improve and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan.
It will improve water supply in the seven identified towns of Rajasthan by establishing three new water treatment plants by converting all groundwater sources to surface water, replacing leaking water pipes, installing water supply pipelines, and providing 77,000 households connections with water meters.
Improvement of sanitation facilities in 8 identified towns of Rajasthan by building new sewage treatment plants and connecting at least 54,000 households to the sewage system.
Development of water structures with heritage value in 8 identified heritage towns or towns with strong tourism potential so as to improve the living conditions and attract more tourists.
Asian Development Bank is a regional Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) which was set up on 19 December 1966 to provide development loans to countries in Asia. Later its scope was extended and it primarily provides loans to the countries of Asia-Pacific.
At present the ADB provides loans ,technical assistance, grants and equity investments to promote social and economic development in its member countries and partners.
Initially there were 31 members but at present there are 68 member countries of which 49 countries are from Asia and the Pacific and 19 are from outside the Asia Pacific region.
Headquarters: Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines.
President of ADB : Masatsugu Asakawa of Japan (A Japanese has always been the president of ADB since its inception).