The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an additional USD 101 million (approx. Rs 841.72 crore) loan for the ongoing West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project.

This funding aims to expand access to safe, sustainable, and inclusive drinking water services in rural areas, especially in regions affected by arsenic, fluoride, and salinity contamination. The project will support the development of alternative safe water sources in Purba Medinipur and fund new proposals for salinity-affected areas in South 24 Parganas and unserved regions of Purba Medinipur.

Initiated in 2018 with a USD 240 million (Rs 2,002.56 crore) investment, the project has introduced continuous service delivery, 3,90,000 metered connections, SCADA systems, and GIS monitoring. Infrastructure built includes four water treatment plants, 79 reservoirs, and 6,200 km of pipelines. The new financing will also strengthen local governance via the Asset Management and Service Delivery Framework (AMSDF).