Ulaanbaatar, December 12, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The MONTSAME National News Agency visited Darkhan-Uul aimag on November 13-15, 2024, to tour the projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Wastewater Treatment Facility

The Waste Water Treatment Facility in Darkhan City of Darkhan-Uul aimag was renovated and upgraded under the “Darkhan Wastewater Management” Project, which aims to support environmentally sustainable urban development and improve living standards in the city. As part of the project, a modern wastewater treatment plant was constructed as well as an improved sewer system and pumping stations. The project was funded by a USD 18.5 million loan from the ADB. The aim of the project is to facilitate the development of Darkhan into a “Smart, Green City” by 2028, which will contribute to reducing the concentration of the Capital City, Ulaanbaatar.

The prior water treatment facility was built in 1965 and partially renovated in 1987, which required critical repairs and replacement of equipment. The old facility regularly encountered breakages and due to being built during the socialist era, parts and equipment required for maintenance were expensive and hard to come by. The new wastewater treatment plant has the capacity to treat 50,000m3 of wastewater daily, which is around three times more than the current demand. So, the plant is estimated to facilitate the growth of Darkhan City until 2040. The plant consists of pumps, filters, aeration tanks, and other components, purifying the water up to 98 percent before discharging it to the Kharaa River.

Development Center for Persons with Disabilities

Jointly with the Government of Mongolia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has implemented the Ensuring Inclusiveness and Service Delivery for Persons with Disabilities Project, funded by a USD 25 million loan from ADB and a USD 2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR). The project aims to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in Mongolia by promoting their social and economic integration. It focuses on providing better economic and educational opportunities as well as enhanced access to and delivery of public services.

The Development Center for Persons with Disabilities in Darkhan City opened in January 2024. There are over 4,000 persons with disabilities in Darkhan-Uul aimag, more than 500 of whom are children. Children account for 70 percent of those receiving services at the Center. The rehabilitation services provided include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychological support. Psychologists offer mental health support to individuals with disabilities, as well as to their families and caregivers. Additionally, specialized teachers work to identify developmental delays in children aged 0–6 early on, enabling timely support and interventions to address developmental gaps and provide necessary assistance.

Ulaanbaatar-Darkhan Road

As part of the USD 120 million Regional Road Development and Maintenance Project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), work on the 204-kilometer two-lane road from Ulaanbaatar to Darkhan is 99.1 percent complete. The project includes recycling the previous two-lane road, resulting in a new and improved surface that is 10 cm thick and 6–7 meters wide. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also funding a project to construct two additional lanes, making the Ulaanbaatar-Darkhan road four lanes wide.

To improve safety, wire rope median barriers were installed at safety black spots along the route. Additionally, a central information center will be established, supporting 18 camera-monitored locations along the road and two weight-detection stations to monitor vehicle loads.

The improved Ulaanbaatar-Darkhan road is expected to facilitate safer and faster travel between the capital and aimags in the northern region of Mongolia, increasing the flow of goods and people, and driving economic growth and regional development. 

Shannon Cowlin, Country Director of the Mongolia Resident Mission, stated: “ADB has funded numerous projects in Darkhan-Uul and Selenge aimags. During this trip, we visited seven of these projects. In Darkhan-Uul, we saw the Ulaanbaatar-Darkhan road, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, a school, and a Center for Persons with Disabilities. In Selenge aimag, we visited a domestic violence shelter and the regional hospital, where ADB has invested in hospital safety measures. The benefits and outcomes of these projects were quite impressive to me.

Three of the facilities we visited have opened only recently. The domestic violence shelter, which opened in October 2023, has already supported a significant number of survivors. The Center for Persons with Disabilities, which began operating in March 2024, is already providing rehabilitation and habilitation services. The school, which opened in September 2024 just before the start of the academic year, is fully utilized and filled with students.

At the regional hospital, improvements made five years ago continue to provide tremendous benefits to the community throughout the region. Similarly, the farming cooperative we visited has seen remarkable success. With the establishment of a greenhouse and storage facilities, their vegetable production has increased significantly, boosting their income.

Lastly, the wastewater treatment facility in Darkhan is an infrastructure project that, while not directly visible to citizens, plays a critical role in delivering modern sanitation services and protecting Mongolia’s waterways and soil from pollution.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the results we observed. The impact of these projects on the communities has been profound, and it was inspiring to witness the tangible benefits firsthand.”