India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a 300 million US dollar loan to finance inclusive and sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in 14 secondary towns of the state of Rajasthan. The signatories to the Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project were Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission.<br />'' <br />''On this occasion, Mr Khare said, said the project aims at providing better quality and more sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services in the project towns. He said, it will improve quality of life in these towns, including for the poor and vulnerable after signing the loan agreement. Mr Khare said, the investments in WSS with 10-year operation and maintenance contracts will ensure improved and sustainable service delivery in line with the State Government's urban sector development plan.<br />'' <br />''Mr. Konishi said, the project will empower urban local bodies, and strengthen their institutional capacity, deepen sector reforms, and build resilience of communities to manage health pandemics.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Through the project, water supply systems in at least eight project towns are expected to improve by 2027, benefiting more than five lakh 70 thousand people. Citywide sanitation systems will benefit about seven lakh 20 thousand people in at least 14 secondary towns.</span><br />