Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):

=> It is part of Overseas Development Assistance(ODA) program of Japan.

Overseas Development Assistance:

=> It is a low-interest and a long-term loan(soft loan) offered by Japan to developing nations including India.

JICA projects in Guwahati:

=> Two JICA funded projects are run in Guwahati-

1. Sewage and Sanitation
2. Drinking water supply

=> Both projects are being run by Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

=> The project has dragged on for many years, missing repeated deadlines.

=> But finally after an inordinately long delay, the partial commissioning of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted Guwahati Water Supply project was inaugurated on December 21.