KATHMANDU: An Asian Development Bank mission is in the capital for the final study of the Small Town Urban Environment Improvement Project, which is to be carried out at a cost of 97 million US dollars. Norio Saito leads the mission, which will finalise the preliminary engineering design, cost estimation and financing arrangement to be presented to the ADB board in June, according to Kamal Raj Pande, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. If approved by

the board, project implementation will possibly

start in September.

The STUEIP has been planned for municipal

infrastructural development in Biratnagar, Birgunj

and Butwal. Waste water treatment, solid waste

management, road and drinking water projects will be implemented under it.

According to a preliminary financing arrangement, the government, ADB and the sub metropolitan cities and municipalities will jointly fund the undertaking.

Another fact-finding mission led by David Mergonsztern is arriving in the capital on March 22 to complete the preliminary project plan for Sustainable Urban Transport for Kathmandu Valley. The 28 million-dollar project will get $20 million aid from the ADB while the remaining cost will be borne by the government and the Global Environment Facility.