India-funded Supply and Installation of Hand Pump Project in Cambodia Marks Official Completion

Cambodia and India on Monday marked the Final Phase of the Project for Supply and Installation of 1500 Hand Pumps for Augmentation of Rural Water Supply in Cambodia.
The ceremony was held virtually under the presidency of H.E. Dr. Ouk Rabun, Minister of Rural Development of Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State of External Affairs of India, and Indian Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Dr. Devyani Khobragade.
The Government of India financed the implementation of the project through 100 percent grant.
The project was executed by Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS), a Government of India Undertaking (under the aegis of Ministry of Water Resources). The project led to supply and installation of 1500 Hand pumps in two provinces of Cambodia, namely Thbong Khmum and Banteay Meanchey.
The project started in 2017 and ended in 2020. By Sept. 2, 2020, all the 1500 hand pumps were installed and handed over to the community for their daily use.
The completion ceremony could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The project would lead to availability of safe drinking water supply and improvement of health in the targeted communities, in the critical villages in Cambodia.
A rural population of nearly 400,000 in 433 villages are benefited by this project and has led to increase in population coverage with safe drinking water from 27 to 40 percent.
“India looks forward to being a vital partner in Cambodia’s economic development, through continuation of capacity building efforts, financial support in terms of grants and concessional loans,” said a press release from the Indian Embassy in Cambodia.
The Government of India continues to support and collaborate with various Ministries/Departments of the Royal Government of Cambodia under various bilateral and multilateral frameworks for the socio-economic development of Cambodia and its people, especially when both countries are marking 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2022, which also coincidentally marks the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Sectoral Partnership, 25th Anniversary of Dialogue Partnership, 20th Anniversary of Summit-level Partnership and 10 years of Strategic Partnership.
Such people-centric projects not only positively impact the lives of needy local communities but also immensely contribute towards strengthening the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press