Loan Agreement for Karnataka Integrated & Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Programme - Benefits
Loan Agreement for Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Programme - Benefits
Question: Funding is the key to development of water efficiency in irrigation. Discuss the key benefits of the loan agreement between Indian government and ADB to improve availability of water in selected river basins in Karnataka.
About the Loan Agreement
• Government of India and ADB have signed a loan agreement of USD 31 million for:
- Improving water availability in selected Karnataka river basins
- Improving water efficiency in irrigation
• Loan is first tranche of USD 150 million Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Programme given ADB approval in 2014
Benefits
• It will boost water availability in Karnataka river basins through:
- Implementation of IWRM/Integrated Water Resources Management
- Improved water efficiency in irrigation
• Karnataka is reeling under a water crisis with growing demand from industrial and urban sectors; this loan will help to bridge the gaps
• It will also improve water availability for meeting competing water demands in selected river basins
• Tranche 1 loan will modernise the Gondi irrigation system
• It will fund training and certification of 200 Water Resources Department personnel in:
- Integrated Water Resources Management
- Capacity building of water users cooperative societies
- Institutional strengthening of IWRM systems
• Make IWRM systems at par with globally competitive standards of performance and policy analysis
• Through this project, Advanced Centre for IWRM will be developed into a sub regional accredited institute for certification in IWRM
Facts and Stats
• ADB loan of USD 31 million will cover 65% of the project cost
• The total project cost is USD 48 million
• The project will receive funding of USD 17 million from the Karnataka state government
• The project for improving water efficiency in irrigation and river basin development in Karnataka will be completed by March in 2019
