ADB to launch Water Study Project in S Asia

This was disclosed by Frederick C Roche, director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division, South Asia Department of the bank, when the visiting Bangladesh delegation called on him in Manila yesterday to express Bangladesh's concern over the adverse impact of the Indian river-linking project on its ecology.

He said the ADB is aware about Indian river-linking project and some component of project could be included in that programme.

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Roche mentioned that India had not formally asked the bank for any loan for its river-linking project.

He however assured the delegation that they would be extremely cautious while dealing with transboundary water sharing issues.

"We will look for the detailed study of the project," he said, adding

"The bank will not do anything that will encourage regional conflict."

Roche said the situation is different in South Asia because of politics. But the recent SAARC summit in Pakistan could be a break- through to change the situation, he added.

Kenichi Yokoyama, project engineer and Thomas Panella, water resources engineer of ADB, were also present at the meeting.

Members of the delegation included Hasna Moudud, president of the Coastal Area Resources Development and Management Association, Dr Azharul Haque, former managing director of WASA, Dr Abdul Ghani, manger of Research Administration, and Md Habib Ullah Majumder, joint secretary of the water resources ministry.

The Bangladesh delegation had gone to Manila to attend the Second Water Week Conference of the bank that ended yesterday.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, ADB Vice-President Liqun Jin said the bank will decentralise its fund and allocate loan to the private sectors to ensure safe water access for urban and rural poor.

He said in terms of improving water security, the poor are often caught in a vicious circle of lack of water and lack of economic opportunity.

"To break this circle, we need to focus more attention on meeting the basic needs of the poor people and water is one of the top priorities," he added.

"We commit ourselves to further strengthen our partnerships for action to catalyze effective pro-poor water projects throughout the region," Jin said.

"This will involve working more closely with local governments, bilateral fund giving agencies, the private sector, non-government organisations, research institutions, and the media," he added.

The five-day conference, that started on Monday at the ADB secretariat, was attended by 350 participants from all over the world.

The theme of the conference was 'Water for the poor: Setting the Rules and Finding the Money.'

The participants held discussions on 12 different topics regarding water issues.