Japan to help India clean Yamuna, promote intelligent transport systems

Japan has offered to help India in cleaning the Yamuna, with plans to make its water potable by the year 2017. Besides, it would assist India in developing intelligent transport systems (ITS) in urban areas of the country.

The two countries identified new areas of cooperation in urban development sector at the end of the day-long meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group that concluded late last evening.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is associated with 16 sewerage and water supply projects in India, on Wednesday expressed hope that the Yamuna would be clean by year 2017 and its water fit for consumption and swimming too.

''With several sewerage projects under implementation and other efforts in progress, and if everything goes well, I expect to swim in the river Yamuna and drink Yamuna water by 2017,'' said Sinya Ejima, chief representative of JICA in India.

JICA is currently associated with various projects relating to sewerage and water supply, with a total loan commitment of Rs28,660 crore, in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa.

Ejima said that current commitment of JICA's assistance in urban sector, including water and transport, is of the order of Rs2,40,000 crore.

Japan's ministry of land, Infrastructure and tourism, meanwhile, will assist India in developing ITS architecture and capacity development in respect of ITS, besides developing ring roads for major cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi etc. It would also hold working level meetings and exchange knowledge in earthquake resistant construction technology.

India has suggested sharing information on sewage networks, including water reuse and continued sharing of experiences in the field of urban transport.

The 9th meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Urban Development will be held in Japan next year.