By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 16: Embassy of India in Nepal in association with National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), UNDP and UNOPS organised an event in Kathmandu on Monday to mark the successful completion of India-funded reconstruction of 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts.

The event was attended by Namgya C. Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India Kathmandu, NRA CEO Sushil Gyawali, Mayor of Palungtar Municipality in Gorkha, Deputy Mayor of Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot as well as representatives of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), several government agencies, UNDP and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), European Union (EU), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as respective municipalities/rural municipalities.

During the event, Khampa announced that 50,000 private houses as committed by India have been completed with owner-driven reconstruction approach adopted by Nepal government.
UNDP and UNOPS were engaged by India government in March 2018 to provide socio-technical facilitation and consultation (STFC) services to earthquake affected beneficiaries in four municipalities and 14 rural municipalities of Gorkha and Nuwakot districts.

Indian government committed USD 150 million as post-earthquake assistance package in housing sector to provide financial and technical support for reconstruction of 50,000 beneficiaries, including USD 100 million grant and USD 50 million under Fourth Line of Credit.

During the event, a workshop on the lessons learnt and the way ahead was also organized. The workshop aimed at bringing together the project’s major stakeholders to acknowledge the pivotal role played by local government and agencies of NRA in the effectiveness and successful completion of the private housing reconstruction project.

Furthermore, the workshop also elaborated the best practices, shared key learning, and collectively discussed the effectiveness of project to local government as guidance and for future reference.
India is also working with NRA for construction of 71 education sector projects, 132 health buildings and restoration/retrofitting of 28 cultural heritage sites in total 11 districts of Nepal affected by earthquake of 2015.