Nepal and India ink four MoUs, India provides Rs 100 m for rural electrification

India has extended a grant assistance of Rs 100 million to support rural electrification in various five Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Nepal.

Acting Secretary at Ministry of Energy Rajendra Chhetri and Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect in Kathmandu on Friday.

Officials at Ministry for Energy said the grant will be used for electrification of Kachanari VDC in Siraha, Khajuri Mahuwa in Dhanusha, Bhagawanpur in Rupandehi, Phulbari in Dang and Taprek VDC in Nuwakot district.

Nepal and India also signed three other MoUs including for the construction of 600 km postal highway, a project for Nepal Stock Exchange and Science Learning Centre on Friday.

The MoUs were inked after a meeting held between Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and her Indian counterpart S M Krishna Friday evening.

Krishna, who arrived in Kathmandu Friday afternoon on a three-day visit, met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter's Baluwatar residence in the evening.

Talking to media persons after an hour-long meeting, Krishna said he held a broad discussion with the prime minister on matters of bilateral interest including border security and new development projects in Nepal.

Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood were also present during the meeting.

According to PM Nepal's foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai, talks also dwelled on timely implementation of the agreements reached between India and Nepal during the prime minister's trip to India in August, 2009.

Krishna is scheduled to meet President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Constituent Assembly chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, among others.

- Asian Tribune -