ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/7/2001 26 March 2001
Australia commemorates World Water Day
Australia's Deputy High Commissioner to India, Mr. Bryce Hutchesson, launched in New Delhi on 22 March, the World Water Day, a peer consultation workshop on the Australian-assisted Bangalore Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Master Plan Project.
Addressing workshop participants, Mr Hutchesson highlighted the "Water for Health" theme for World Water Day 2001 stressing that water and health were closely inter-linked, precious and needed to be adequately protected.
In this context, Mr Hutchesson praised the efforts being made by the Karnataka Government in partnership with civil society to make Bangalore city more livable and to enhance the quality of life of its citizens. He said that the Australian project was a small but critical contribution in this direction.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Kerry Groves
First Secretary
Development Cooperation
Australian High Commission
Tel: 6888223 extn 561
Website: http://www.ausgovindia.com
Project background
The Government of Australia, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is extending assistance valued at AUD 6.7 million (Rs 16 crores) to improve the capacity of city agencies, in particular the BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board), to plan, implement and deliver water supply, sewerage and environmental sanitation services to its customers in Bangalore, including poor and vulnerable communities.
The project is being implemented by a consortium of Australian agencies comprising Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Limited, Egis Consulting Australia and Brisbane City Enterprises in partnership with the BWSSB, local agencies and community representatives.