Tanzania: Jaishankar Visits India-Led Project That Will Provide Drinking Water to 30,000 Households

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday visited the Keduthani project which will provide drinking water to 30,000 households in Zanzibar – one of the six projects being implemented by India that will provide drinking water to the local population.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Zanzibar for a two-day official visit on Wednesday, said the project is similar to the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ – a program that aims to provide safe and sufficient drinking water through single household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. .

I visited the Kiduthani project which will provide drinking water to 30,000 families in Zanzibar. The six projects we are building will provide drinking water to one million Zanzibari. The local enthusiasm for our efforts was palpable. Similar to Jal Jeevan mission in India,” Jaishankar tweeted.

“Done by India”, is a reality today across Africa. It clearly improves ease of living for many.”

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tanzania in July 2016, India and Tanzania signed a US$92 million LOC agreement to rehabilitate and improve the water supply system in Zanzibar.

During a reception on board the INS Trishul with President of Zanzibar Dr Hussain Ali Mwinyi on Wednesday, Jaishankar said it was a great honor to share Zanzibar India’s expertise in the field of water development. “It was a very big challenge for us.”

“Today, one of our major development programs was the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’… It’s a huge pan-India project and for us what we’re doing with you is a natural extrapolation of what we’re doing in India, and we’re doing it in India,” Jaishankar said.

On Thursday, Jaishankar also visited Stone Town in Zanzibar and witnessed its distinct association with Gujarat.

“Blessed be the visit of Arya Samaj and Shri Shiv Shakti Manders there. This time-tested confluence of Africa and India stands out as a statement of our contemporary partnership.”

Later, he left for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, where he will co-chair the 10th meeting of the India-Tanzania Joint Commission with his counterpart and invite the country’s top leadership, including several cabinet-rank ministers.

“We have reached Dar es Salaam. I look forward to my discussions with the Tanzanian leadership. Jaishankar interacted with the Indian diaspora in Dar es Salaam as he recognized their role as a contributor to the relationship between India and Tanzania.

“There was lively interaction with members of the Indian community in Dar es Salaam. He emphasized the importance of Mission IT (India and Tanzania). He highlighted the strong relationship between India and Africa, especially our deep ties with East Africa.”

“I acknowledge that the Indian community is an expression, contributor and strength of this relationship; our water projects will benefit 8 million people; with 750 seats annually, Tanzania is India’s largest African partner in training and capacity building.

The Indian community has historically been a strength of the relationship. “As our relationships expand, so does their role,” he added.

During the visit, he will meet members of the India Parliamentary Friendship Group and open an India-Tanzania business meeting. A statue of Swami Vivekananda will also be inaugurated in Dar es Salaam.

India and Tanzania have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)