India-Nepal review progress of post-earthquake reconstruction projects

Nepal and India today held a Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) meeting on post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Kathmandu.

The meeting was co-chaired by secretary at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Chandra Tiwari and joint secretary (North) at the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India Anurag Srivastava, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The JPMC Mechanism was set up in August 2017 to monitor the progress of the Government of India-assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies of the government, officers and officials of the Government of India, consultants and other stakeholders engaged in the implementation of the projects. The last JPMC meeting was held on March 8, 2020 in Kathmandu.

The meeting carried out a comprehensive review of the progress of Government of India assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors in Nepal, the press note reads, adding that both sides expressed satisfaction on the successful completion of 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts, constructed under the Government of India's assistance in the housing sector. "Similarly, both sides also noted with appreciation the progress achieved in reconstruction projects being undertaken under education, cultural heritage and health sectors in Nepal."

The co-chairs agreed to hold the next meeting of the JPMC on a mutually-convenient date.