Indian support to reconstruction of earthquake affected schools :

Kathmandu : Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Nepal Namgya Khampa handed over on Wednesday a cheque of Rs 306.6 million to Chief of Nepal Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali for 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, according to a press release by the Embassy. India had committed a grant assistance of 50 million US dollars towards reconstruction of educational institutions in Nepal, of which 71 projects have presently been taken up by NRA, including the Central Library building of Tribhuvan University.

These projects are located in Gorkha, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavre, Dhading, and Sindhupalchowk districts of Nepal. While three schools in Gorkha and five in Nuwakot have been completed, construction of 56 schools in five districts is underway and seven schools are in final stage of award of contract.

During the meeting, progress of various Government of India funded reconstruction projects in Housing, Health and Cultural Heritage sector were also discussed. India has also committed 150 million US dollars towards reconstruction of 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, 50 million US dollars for reconstruction of 147 hospitals/health posts in 10 districts and another 50 million US dollars for restoration/reconstruction of 28 cultural heritage sites in eight districts of Nepal. While housing sector projects are nearly completed and handed over to beneficiaries, projects in Education, Health and Cultural Heritage sectors are at various stages of active implementation, adds the release.