Kathmandu, Sep 27 (IANS) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thursday honoured four public projects of Nepal for their efficiency in improving water supply and sanitation services, agriculture, air safety standards and the lives of rural poor.

The awards were announced during the ADB’s annual country portfolio meeting with the Nepal government here, Xinhua reported.
ADB’s Country Director for Nepal Kenichi Yokoyama said that ABD appreciated the efforts made towards achieving the desired targets in various sectors. All of the projects are supported by the ADB.
Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi handed over the Outstanding Project Management Team Award to the Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Project, the Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project and the Second Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project and the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project.
Poverty reduction in rural areas of Nepal by creating employment opportunities through creation of markets is the major task of the Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Project.
Likewise, the Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project is working to improve the agriculture productivity of more than 178,285 farmers by improving water accessibility.
The Second Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project has developed water sources in 20 small towns to improve sanitation services. It has also build water treatment facilities, storage tanks, private latrines and public toilets.
The Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project is helping to improve the country’s airports and civil aviation safety standards.
ADB has worked in partnership with the Nepal government since the country joined it as a founding member in 1966. ADB began lending to Nepal in 1969.

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