Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: India and Nepal held the 5th meeting of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) on post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Kathmandu on Monday. The meeting reviewed the progress of projects funded by India’s $250 million grant assistance, pledged after the devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal.
The grant was allocated across four key sectors: 100 million), Education ($50 million), Health($50 million) and Cultural Heritage ($50 million).
Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North) at the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation, while Padma Kumar Mainalee, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development, headed the Nepali delegation. Representatives from both governments, consultants and stakeholders involved in project implementation also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the two sides conducted a comprehensive review of the reconstruction projects. They acknowledged the successful completion of projects in the housing sector in 2021 and the education sector in 2024. In the health and cultural heritage sectors, both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made and agreed to expedite the remaining projects for early completion.
Since the last JPMC meeting in October 2023, India has handed over 26 projects in the education sector, including the Tribhuvan University Central Library in Kathmandu, 32 projects in the health sector, and three projects in the cultural heritage sector, amounting to Rs 3.35 billion. Additionally, 43 health sector projects and nine cultural heritage projects, totaling Rs 1.73 billion, have been completed during this period.
Both sides highlighted the positive socio-economic impact of these projects, particularly in generating employment and improving health and education facilities in remote areas of Nepal.
“Assistant Secretary Mahawar also visited the Gusthal Mahavihar reconstruction project, a cultural heritage site located in Guita Tole, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Ward-8. During the visit, he reviewed the project’s progress and engaged with members of the user community,” the Embassy of India said in a statement.
