Karnali govt, Ministry of Water Supply partner in cost-sharing agreement

By Our Correspondent,Surkhet, May 9: Following federalism, a cost-sharing agreement has been signed between the federal and provincial governments for large-scale drinking water projects to be constructed under the partnership of all three tiers of government in Karnali Province.

An agreement was signed between the Federal Ministry of Water Supply and the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development of the Karnali Province Government on Tuesday to collaborate on a cost-sharing basis under the Drinking Water Sectoral Governance and Infrastructure Support Project.

Under the cost-sharing model, agreements have been signed by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply, Engineer Ramakanta Duwadi, and Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development of Karnali, Indra Dev Bhatta, for ongoing drinking water projects in Birendranagar of Surkhet and Sharada Municipality of Salyan. 

After the implementation of federalism, these projects are set to receive the largest-ever investment from the federal government in the drinking water sector at the local level.

According to the agreement, the Karnali Province Government will allocate a budget of Ra. 940 million over four years for these two drinking water projects.

Speaking after the agreement, Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav said that the programme would be implemented in Karnali through mutual coordination and collaboration among the federal, provincial, and local governments in line with the spirit of federalism, promoting sectoral good governance and infrastructure development in the drinking water sector. 

"This agreement is an exemplary model of coordination and collaboration among all three tiers of government under the spirit of federalism,” said Minister Yadav. 

“It also signifies a shared commitment to implement programmes based on cost-sharing to promote sectoral good governance and infrastructure development in the drinking water sector," he added.

Minister Yadav further claimed that sufficient budget will be allocated for drinking water projects in Karnali Province.

The project aims to address sectoral good governance, institutional capacity and project management strengthening, climate-resilient, improved access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

The project further aims to mitigate the effects and risks posed by climate change through integrated water resource management and watershed management, including emergency response measures.

To advance the Drinking Water Sectoral Governance and Infrastructure Support Project, a financial agreement was signed between the International Development Association (IDA) and the Government of Nepal on 13 July 2022.  The project is set to run until 15 July 2028.

The agreement signing ceremony held at Singha Durbar was attended by Minister for Water Supply Yadav, Karnali Province’s Minister for Water Resources and Energy Development Bijaya Budha, Mayor of Birendranagar Municipality Mohan Maya Dhakal, Mayor of Sharada Municipality Prakash Bhandari, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply Engineer Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya, Director General of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management Engineer Ramkumar Shrestha, among others.