Phnom Penh/New Delhi, Sep 27 : India today completed the supply and installation of 1,500 hand pumps to Cambodia to provide safe drinking water to over 400 villages in two provinces of the Southeast Asian neighbour.

The hand pumps would benefit nearly 450,000 people in the provinces of Banteay MeanChey, in northwest Cambodia, and Tboung Khmum in the central lowlands of the Mekong river.

The final phase of the project for supply and installation of hand pumps was done at a virtual ceremony, presided over by Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, and Cambodia’s Minister of Rural Development, Dr. Ouk Rabun.

The implementation of the ‘Project for Supply and Installation of 1500 Hand Pumps for Augmentation of Rural Water Supply in Cambodia’ was financed by the Government of India through a 100% grant. This entailed supply and installation of 1,500 hand pumps in the provinces of Tboung Khmum and Banteay MeanChey.

With Monday’s event, the coverage of the population with safe drinking water has risen from 27% to 40%, said an official statement.

The Project is a reflection of the strong Bilateral Development Cooperation between India and Cambodia. 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, the statement said.

In June 2017, India had handed over 800 hand pumps to villagers in Tboung Khmum province.

In 2017, the Indian government also supplied and installed 1,500 Afridev hand pumps to increase water supply in rural areas in Tboung Khmum, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Chhnang and Svay Rieng provinces.

In December 2007, India offered a grant in aid of US$ 8.5 million for supply and installation of 1,500 Afridev hand-operated pumps to augment supply of drinking water in rural areas of Cambodia. The hand pump project, with a revised estimated cost of US$ 12 million, was launched on April 20, 2017.(UNI)