About 160,000 people in Laos will soon have clean water under a project operated by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Mr Khamthavy Thaiphachanh ( left ) and Ms Anupma Jain during the agreement ceremony. The small town water supply and sanitation project is expected to cost more than 300 billion kip (about US$37 million). Project head Phomma Veoravanh said it would run from 2009 to 2013.
“Supplying clean water to remote districts will help improve villagers' health, reduce sickness and prevent diseases that come from water,” he said.
Mr Phomma said the project would upgrade the knowledge and skills of officials working in the water supply sector. This was important because some provinces had few people with specialist knowledge and lacked essential skills for planning and constructing new supplies.
Project officials have surveyed 21 districts and construction of new water supplies is planned for 18 of these districts, with a focus on small remote communities. They aim to improve the quality and reliability of supply systems in regional areas, particularly in Saravan and Bokeo provinces and in Vang Vieng district of Vientiane province.
Mr Phomma said the quality of water provided by the project would be similar to that available in Vientiane .
“We have also planned to improve drainage channels in small towns, especially in crowded areas, to help release dirty water and to protect the environment,” he said.
Officials from the project will also provide education for remote communities about proper sanitation practices to help prevent diseases.
The project may also assist with partial funding to construct community roads.
Funding for the project will come from the Asian Development Bank (190 billion kip or US$23 million), AusAID (90 billion kip or US$11 million), UN HABITAT (8 billion kip or US$1 million) and the Lao government.
The agreement to receive support from ADB was signed in Vientiane on Tuesday between Housing and Urban Planning Department Director General, Mr Khamthavy Thaiphachanh, and ADB representative, Ms Anupma Jain. Mr Phomma said constructing water supplies was in line with the government policy to alleviate poverty, and would help remote areas to improve their quality of life.
By Meuangkham Noradeth (Latest Update July 24, 2008)
can sumone explain to me why it will only last from 2009 to 2013?? or am i just mis reading things ????
I think 2009-2013 is the lenght of the project. The time needed to complete the contruction in order to provide the clean water for the people.
They will start in 2009 and schedule to be completed by 2013. After 2013 people will have water. Not sure it is going to be free. Unless I misunderstood it as well.
How you sure clean water is also a safe water? Can people drink that clean water without boiling it first? What that clean water mean? Clean and safe or not.
