India and Nepal on Sunday held the 5th meeting of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee on post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Kathmandu.

The meeting comprehensively reviewed the progress of India-assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal’s housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors.

It acknowledged the successful completion of the projects agreed under the housing sector in 2021 and the education sector in 2024, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in the health and cultural heritage sectors and agreed to expedite the early completion of projects.

After the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, India committed $250 million in grant assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal. The grant was allocated to four different sectors. The mechanism was set up in August 2017 to monitor the progress of these projects.

Since the last JPMC meeting in October 2023, India has handed over 26 projects in the education sector, including Tribhuvan University Central Library in Kathmandu, 32 projects in the health sector and three projects in the cultural heritage sector, amounting to Rs3.35 billion.

In addition, 43 projects in the health sector and nine projects in the cultural heritage sector amounting to Rs1.7349 billion have been completed during this period, the embassy said.

Both sides appreciated the positive socio-economic impact of the reconstruction projects, particularly in employment generation and extension of health and education facilities in remote areas, reads the statement.

The Nepali delegation was led by Padma Kumar Mainalee, joint secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, and the Indian delegation was led by Munu Mahawar, additional secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs.

The meeting was also attended by several other representatives of the governments of India and Nepal, consultants, and other stakeholders engaged in implementing the projects.