Imphal: A high-level delegation from the New Development Bank (NDB) held discussions with Manipur Deputy Chief Minister and PHED Minister-in-Charge Losii Dikho on Friday to review the progress of NDB-assisted water supply and infrastructure projects in the state.
The meeting took place at Dikho’s office in Mantripukhri, Imphal, where NDB officials from its Shanghai headquarters and country office representatives assessed the implementation of various projects supported by the bank.
The discussions focused primarily on the Manipur Water Supply Project, along with other NDB-backed initiatives covering water security, urban infrastructure, sanitation and climate-resilient water management.
Dikho stressed the need for timely and effective implementation of the projects to ensure a reliable and sustainable drinking water supply, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state.
The NDB delegation highlighted the importance of close coordination between the bank, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and other concerned departments to address implementation-related bottlenecks, speed up ongoing works and ensure that project benefits reach the public at the earliest.
The projects are aimed at improving water infrastructure in water-scarce areas, strengthening distribution networks, improving the sustainability of water sources and ensuring proper maintenance of completed facilities.
NDB officials also appreciated the PHED for completing more than 80 per cent of the project, despite law-and-order challenges in the region.
Dikho reiterated the state government’s commitment to making effective use of NDB assistance. The bank’s representatives, meanwhile, indicated that it would continue its long-term engagement with Manipur, with potential areas of future cooperation including the health and education sectors.