The Japan has extended grant assistance of up to four billion, eight hundred and thirteen million Japanese yen (¥4,813,000,000), equivalent to about four billion five hundred and twenty-nine million Nepalese rupees (NRs.4,529,000,000), to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Project for Improvement of Water Supply in Pokhara, under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Japan’s Fiscal Year 2016.

Masashi OGAWA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal and Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance signed on behalf of their respective Governments.

According to a press release issued by Embassy of Japan, Similarly, a separate Grant Agreement has also been signed and exchanged between Jun SAKUMA, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Baikuntha Aryal, Chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance.

Under this Grant Assistance, the Project will construct a sedimentation tank, water treatment plant, reservoirs and overhead tanks, including rehabilitation of the existing raw water transmission line, construction of a new clear water transmission line and the necessary distribution system for effective and equitable distribution of drinking water. Considering the importance of an effective operation and maintenance of the water supply system, the Project will also purchase the necessary equipment, along with soft components, for the successful implementation of the project, thus, ensuring the supply of quality drinking water to the city dwellers of Pokhara.

Japanese ambassador Masashi Ogawa  has noted that this Project has been long awaited by the people of Pokhara in order to obtain safe drinking water not only for their daily life but also for the substantial number of tourists who come to Pokhara for their happy and healthy holidays. The Ambassador expressed his confidence that this Project will be a symbolic landmark for the socio-economic development of Pokhara and will also contribute to further deepening the relationship between the two nations.

Elaborating his understanding about Pokhara city, the Ambassador said that Pokhara is naturally gifted with a lot of wonderful features that include scenic views of the famous Mt. Machhapuchhre, the Annapurna range and Fewa Lake. The mesmerizing beauty and calm atmosphere encourage visitors to stay as long as possible and to repeat their visit to Pokhara again and again. Therefore, Japan considers this project will increase its attractiveness as a tourist destination of Pokhara.

The Ambassador Ogawa  has expressed his sincere confidence that Japan, as a close friend and sincere development partner of Nepal, will certainly extend all possible assistance to help Nepal in the country’s endeavor for nation building. Expressing his happiness, the Ambassador said that he is very happy and privileged to be a part of this effort.  Expressing his further expectation he said that the infrastructures being constructed under this Project will certainly be yet another cornerstone to enhancing the friendly relations between the people of the both countries.

As the reference, in 2004 Japan extended grant assistance of about 180 million Japanese Yen to Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) Pokhara to purchase water pipes and other materials for the augmentation of the water supply capacity by the installation of a new water transmission line under the Non-Project Grant Aid Scheme. Moreover, Japan has been extending ODA assistance to Nepal for different water supply projects since 1976, including water supply facilities for rural areas, semi-urban cities, and Kathmandu Metropolitan City.