Assistance of $1 billion for rebuilding Nepal

News:

India has pledged $1 billion in assistance to quake-ravaged Nepal for its massive reconstruction programme.

• One fourth of the $1 billion assistance will be granted and it will be over and above India’s existing bilateral developmental assistance of another $1 billion over the next five years which takes the total assistance to $2 billion.
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj declared it in the International conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction which was organised by the Nepalese government to raise funds for rebuilding the country devastated by a powerful earthquake.
•  The minister also congratulated the National Planning Commission of Nepal for their comprehensive recovery needs assessment, prepared in collaboration with more than 200 international experts. The PDNA report estimates huge reconstruction needs of $6.7 billion.
• India will share its expertise in sectors including agriculture, housing, roads and transport, electricity, health, education, cultural heritage, and disaster risk reduction.
• She also emphasized on the implementation of the hydro power projects and work on construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track road and the Nijgadh airport with India’s participation should be expedited.
  Source: ET