India lends a helping hand in reconstruction of Nepal post earthquake; 50000 houses being reconstructed with India?s financial support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while visiting last week had expressed happiness over the reconstruction of Nepal and the role India played in it, right from the beginning. He was speaking during the inauguration of Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline last week via video link and reiterated India’s commitment to the reconstruction and development of Nepal.

Government of India is supporting reconstruction of 50000 houses damaged in 2015 devastating earthquake in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts of Nepal. This is part of Government of India economic package of US $ 1 bn announced during the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction on 25 June, 2015 in Kathmandu to help support the Government of Nepal in its reconstruction efforts.

Reciprocating PM Modi’s gesture, Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli appreciated Govt. of India’s efforts to aid Nepal and termed these houses as a symbol of India’s support and friendly gesture to the people of Nepal.

Government of Nepal has appreciated India for its sustained and generous humanitarian support in post-earthquake reconstruction.

In June this year, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri had handed over a cheque of 1.6 billion Nepali Rupees(NPR) to Finance Secretary of Nepal, Dr. Rajan Khanal in Kathmandu. The amount was released towards reimbursement of part payment of 1st and 2nd tranches of housing reconstruction extended by Government of India to 50,000 housing beneficiaries in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts.

The catastrophic earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on 25 April, 2015, followed by hundreds of aftershocks impacted lives of over eight million people across Nepal. Thirty-one of the country’s 75 districts have been affected, out of which 14 were declared ‘crisis-hit’ for the purpose of prioritizing rescue and relief operation; and another 17 neighbouring districts were partially affected as per the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report.

Concerned Indian agencies, including the Indian National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Air Force and Indian Army Medical Corps were the first foreign contingents to land in Kathmandu within hours of the disaster to help launch relief operation.

Post earthquake, mammoth tasks for reconstruction, infrastructure development and revival of local economy has emerged. To this end, as close neighbours marked with a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterized by open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture, the Government of India announced a new economic package of US $ 1 bn during the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction held on 25 June, 2015 in Kathmandu to help support the Government of Nepal in its reconstruction efforts. The GoI’s economic package compromised of 25%grant and 75% LoC aimed to support reconstructions works in the areas of Housing, Road and Transports, Health, Education, Cultural Heritage sites Power and Disaster Risk Management.

India has so far reimbursed a total of NPR 4.5 billion to Nepal. Ambassador Puri thanked Government of Nepal for partnership and reiterated that people and Government of India remain committed to completion of post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal. Government of India is partnering with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for providing Socio-Technical Facilitation to the house owners in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts.