JICA-Backed Project to Bring Safe Water to over 84,500 Rural Households in Purulia, West Bengal

Kolkata, 17 August 2026: The West Bengal Piped Water Supply Project, a major rural drinking water infrastructure project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was inaugurated today at Manbazar in Purulia district by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Suvendu Adhikari. The project is set to transform access to safe and reliable drinking water for communities across five development blocks of Purulia district and Purulia Municipality.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of Embassy of Japan, JICA, officials of Government of Bengal, District administration, local representatives and other stakeholders.

Implemented with financial assistance from JICA, the project has been constructed at an investment of approximately ₹1,296.25 crore (JPY 14,225 million). The project is expected to provide safe and potable piped water to more than 84,500 households across Manbazar-I, Barabazar, Arsha, Purulia-I and Puncha development blocks, besides providing bulk water supply to Purulia municipality. It will draw water from the Mukutmanipur Reservoir on the Kumari River and is designed to address long-standing bottlenecks in drinking water availability in the region.

On this occasion, Mr. TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India highlighted that, “This project marks a significant milestone in India-Japan development cooperation and JICA’s commitment to strengthening water supply infrastructure across India. By bringing reliable, piped water closer to households, the initiative is expected to contribute significantly to improved public health, reduce the time and effort spent on water collection, and support the social and economic well-being of rural communities in the state of West Bengal.”

Under the guidance of Ministry of Jal Shakti, the project has been implemented by the Public Health Engineering Department, Government of West Bengal. The project highlights the broader role of JICA India in supporting India’s efforts to strengthen water security and improve essential public services. Through development cooperation and long-term infrastructure financing, JICA has been supporting projects that aim to improve the reliability and sustainability of water supply systems, particularly in areas where communities face persistent infrastructure gaps.

The initiative further reinforces the enduring partnership between India and Japan, with both countries working together to advance sustainable development and strengthen infrastructure that directly benefits citizens. By combining financial cooperation, infrastructure development and institutional implementation, the project demonstrates the potential of development partnerships to deliver long-term outcomes at the grassroots level.


About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is Japan’s primary governmental agency responsible for delivering official development assistance (ODA) to partner countries worldwide. JICA plays a central role in advancing international cooperation and sustainable development for 145 countries including India.
(Link) https://www.jica.go.jp/english/overseas/india/index.html