At a public function held on July 17, 2006 at Jhapa, Ambassador of India laid the foundation stone for development of a Farmers-managed Deep Tube Well Irrigation System in VDC Budhabare, District Jhapa. The function was well attended by representatives of local administration, community leaders and large number of people from the area and adjoining villages. The Tube Well System will be called ‘Nepal-Bharat Maitri Tube Well’.
Government of India has sanctioned assistance of NRs.64,213,752/- for development of 22 Farmers-managed Deep Tube Well systems in districts Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha. An agreement was signed on 6th January, 2005 between Government of India and Government of Nepal laying down the modalities of providing Indian Assistance for this Project. The project is being implemented by Ground Water Resources Development Board (GWRDB), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of Nepal.
A Monitoring Committee has been constituted consisting of members of Embassy of India, Indian Irrigation Engineers and Engineers of GWRDB, Government of Nepal to ensure proper utilisation of the grant assistance.
Implementation of the above project would go a long way in improving the infrastructure for irrigation of 880 hectares of agricultural land in four districts of Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha where farmers are mainly dependent on rain-water for agriculture.
The project is another example of economic cooperation between the two countries as part of ongoing implementation of 142 projects in 61 districts with an outlay of NRs.1800 crore by Government of India in the education, health and infrastructure sectors.
At the recent high level visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal to India the commitment to intensify economic cooperation was expressed by both countries in these three key sectors, both in small as well as medium and mega development projects.
India’s commitment to strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations with Nepal through economic cooperation is steadfast, and will continue for the prosperity and development of its people.
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