NEW DELHI, Apr 3: C Soumya, the First Secretary (Political) Embassy of India, and Maniram Gelal, Secretary, National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Government of Nepal, performed the ground breaking ceremony of the reconstruction of Shree Harisiddhi Secondary School in Roshi Rural Municipality and Shree Siddheshower Secondary School in Mahabharat Rural Municipality on Friday.
According to the Indian High Commission in Kathmandu, the Shree Harisiddhi Secondary School and Shree Siddheshower Secondary School are being renovated for NRs 28.4 million and NRs 39.6 million, respectively. These schools will be constructed in accordance with the Government of Nepal’s earthquake-resilient reconstruction standards. The new school infrastructure will provide cutting-edge infrastructural facilities for use by both teachers and students. The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee, India’s premier institute for earthquake-resilient reconstruction, will provide technical assistance for the construction of these schools.
India has pledged US $ 50 million (approximately NRs 5800 million) for the rehabilitation of 71 educational institutions in Nepal’s eight districts affected by the 2015 earthquake. With this ground breaking ceremony, the building of 70 schools has begun with the first eight already handed over to School Management Committees.
India has also pledged a rehabilitation grant of $200 million (for projects in the housing, health, and cultural heritage sectors). Currently, nearly 47,000 houses out of 50,000 have been completed under the owner-driven model in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts and the work on the remaining houses continuing. The NRA and the respective municipal authorities have asked the beneficiaries to complete the reconstruction before the onset of monsoon.
Under the Indian reconstruction grant, 147 health buildings and 28 cultural heritage sites were restored or retrofitted in 11 districts of Nepal affected by the 2015 earthquake. Work on both of these sectors has begun. The NRA and the Embassy have been coordinating together to complete the reconstruction projects as soon as possible, high commission report said.
(Venkatesh Iyer)