India: Performance Assessment of Urban Water and Sanitation in Gujarat and Maharashtra

CEPT University [Ahmedabad, India] has received a [US$ 9.84 million] grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to research urban water and sanitation issues. The aim of this programme is to develop better information on water and sanitation performance at the local level. This in turn will be used by the state and local governments for extending services to all, strive for financial viability and improve reliability and quality of services. The research will focus on the use of performance indicators and benchmarks to facilitate consistent reporting, monitoring, planning, budgeting, and investing in water and sanitation services in 400 urban areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra states. Lessons from the project will be disseminated to other states and at the national level.

The programme aims to develop a set of performance indicators, assess performances in all 400 cities and towns of the two states and set up a dedicated web portal to host this information on water and sanitation services available in each urban area. Use of this information will be promoted among the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other stakeholders. A sample of ULBs will be assisted in developing performance improvement plans to improve access for the poor and achieve financial viability.

Additionally, comparative analysis will be made available to ULBs, enabling them to track their performance with other cities. State governments can use this information to implement performance linked grants, tracking performance on reform commitments under the JNNURM and possible rewards for better performing local governments. The CEPT University and its partners will work with the state governments to mainstream the performance assessment system in its routine process. The Urban Management Centre (UMC) in Gujarat and the All India Institute of Local Self Governments (AIILSG) in Maharashtra will work closely with CEPT in implementing this programme.

Read a project summary here

Source: CEPT ; Meera Mehta, India Water Portal Blog, 29 Apr 2009