Germany to provide Euros 4 mn for sanitation programmes

Seeking expertise in the sanitation sector, India today signed an agreement with Germany which has committed to provide Euros four million for implementation of cleanliness programmes in urban areas.
As per the agreement, Germany has agreed to provide Euros 4 million and services of international experts to help the Urban Development Ministry in effective implementation of sanitation programmes in urban areas of the country, said a senior Ministry official.
The 'Implementation Agreement on Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy' was signed by Urban Development Ministry Secretary Shankar Aggarwal and Stefan Helming, Country Director, GIZ, on behalf of Germany here.
The agreement, valid for March 2017, seeks to promote capacity development in the urban sanitation sector, formulation of state and city sanitation policies and support states for technical innovation.

The focus of technical cooperation will be on enabling effective measures against discharge of untreated waste water into surface and ground water.
This technical cooperation agreement assumes significance in the context of the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (Clean India campaign) launched by the government which is to be implemented in all the 4,041 census towns.