India handed over a check to Nepalese Rs 306 million for the reconstruction of the earthquake affected schools here on Wednesday.
Namgya Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Embassy of India in Nepal, met with Shushil Gyawali, Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), on Wednesday, when she handed over a check of 306.6 million Nepalese rupees to the Indian Mission in Nepal.
“She (DCM Khampa) handed over a cheque of NRs 306.6 million towards the reconstruction of educational institutions in earthquake-affected districts of Nepal. With this cheque handover, India has reimbursed an amount of NRs 819.8 million to Government of Nepal towards educational sector reconstruction projects,” the release further mentioned.
It also added that two officials from India and Nepal also discussed various Government of India assisted reconstruction projects underway in the Himalayan Nation. After the 2015 earthquake, India committed grant assistance of USD 50 million towards the reconstruction of educational institutions in Nepal. Out of the committed projects, 71 are presently been taken up by NRA, including the Central Library building of Tribhuvan University.
“The DCM reiterated the continued commitment of Government of India to work with Government of Nepal towards its reconstruction efforts, thereby complementing efforts of Government and people of Nepal in post-earthquake recovery,” the release stated.
The epicentre of the 2015 earthquake – Gorkha and others, namely Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavre, Dhading and Sindhupalchowk districts, are receiving Indian assistance in rebuilding educational institutions.
As 71 projects are underway in seven districts, the construction of three schools in Gorkha and five in Nuwakot has already been completed, while the construction of 56 schools in five districts is underway and seven schools are at the final stage of the contract award as of the release date.
The progress of the various Government of India-funded reconstruction projects in the Housing, Health and Cultural Heritage sector was also discussed during the meeting on Wednesday.
India has committed USD 150 million to rebuild 50,000 homes in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, USD 50 million to rebuild 147 hospitals/health centres in 10 districts and another USD 50 million to restore/reconstruct 28 cultural heritage sites in 8 districts of Nepal.
While projects in the housing sector are almost completed and handed over to beneficiaries, projects in the education, health and cultural heritage sectors are at various stages of active implementation.
(With Inputs from ANI)