📋 Tender Overview
The project will improve rural water supply and sanitation systems in project districts (i. E. ,bilaspur, chamba, hamirpur, kangra, kullu, mandi, shimla, sirmaur, solan, and una) by increasing the minimum 70 liters per capita per day of potable uninterrupted water supply to 500,000 rural residents. 187 water supply schemes will be rehabilitated and apply extended operation and maintenance (o&m) contracts with a 5-year o&m period to improve capacity and asset sustainability. The project also includes the implementation of a pilot inclusive sanitation program in sirmaur, to ensure fecal sludge is safely managed, treated, and disposed of, with consideration of resource recovery and re-use. Institutional strengthening for the jal shakti vibhag and gram panchayats (village bodies) for improved efficiency and sustainable service delivery is a core component of the project and includes a training program. Fecal sludge management (fsm) capacity will be enhanced and public awareness-raising on the health benefits related to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (wash) practices to prevent disease and the spread of covid-19 promoted.
Approximately 75. 5% of the states rural population has access to drinking water from improved sources (i. E. , a functional tap connection of piped drinking water supply), substantially higher than the national average of 33. 6%. Despite a relatively high access rate, the existing rural water supply infrastructure is in poor condition and the level of service is low. This is a result of aging infrastructure and the absence of an overall asset management framework, further exacerbated by a lack of operation and maintenance (o&m) funding. The existing water supply is intermittent at 6 to 8 hours per day, with an average of 40 liters per capita per day (lpcd). With small schemes located in remote and steep terrain, data gathering is subject to physical field inspections, making the rural systems difficult to manage. The current monthly tariff is fixed at 34. 54 ($0. 47) and is insufficient for o&m cost recovery. In 2016, the state achieved open defecation-free (odf) status. However, current reporting shows that rural sanitation coverage is 69. 7% (i. E. , households with access to improved sanitation facilities). The primary onsite sanitation facilities include pit latrines and flush latrines connected to septic tanks, which discharge directly to the open environment or in open drains. There is no fecal sludge management (fsm) facility outside of the state capital of shimla. This has been the main sanitation arrangement in rural areas for some time. The project aims to introduce a pilot inclusive sanitation program to raise awareness of fsm services for safeguarding the environment and public health. Himachal pradeshs jal shakti vibhag (jsv), formerly the irrigation and public health department, receives annual federal transfers. However, fiscal improvements for long-term and sustainable service del
