Japanese assistance for drinking water facilities in Saptari (Nepal News)
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 13:52
Japan has decided to extend a grant assistance of Rs. 4,030,093 to the Kankalini Multipurpose Service Center (KMSC) for the implementation of the Project for Drinking Water Facilities at Lohajara in Saptari under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme. A Grant Contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno and Chairperson of Kankalini Multipurpose Service Center (KMSC) Nunu Devi Jha.
The Grant will be utilized for the full-scale boring, procurement of essential equipment, construction, and installation of one 150m deep tube-well, one water storage tank, 21 public tap stand posts, and about 7 kms of distribution pipes in Lohajara in Saptari District, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan on Tuesday. Approximately 2,000 people in Lohajara village will directly benefit from this project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambasssador Mizuno stressed the need for safe drinking water and awareness of health and sanitation, and explained the necessity for installing the 150m deep tube well and motor-pump.
It was found in a survey that, water drawn through the most commonly used hand-pump wells in the Tarai is not suitable for drinking. This is due to two reasons:- insufficient depth to purify bacteria, and that groundwater from between 12 to 22 meters deep contains a highly -dense concentration of arsenic.
Ambassador Mizuno expressed his belief that this project will provide a good supply of safe water, and thereby control water borne diseases.
Source : Nepalnews
