Indian Assistance of NRs.25.1 Million for Construction of Cold Storage in District Morang

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on June 7, 2007 by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu with District Development Committee, Morang and the Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi-Tulasi Smarak Mahaguthi, Biratnagar for providing cooperation grant of NRs.25.1 million for the construction of a cold storage building at Rangeli VDC of District Morang. The cold storage building, complete with essential equipment and power supply, will be constructed by DDC, Morang in co-ordination with the Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi-Tulasi Smarak Mahaguthi – which is a non-profit organization espousing and promoting the Gandhian ideals in Nepal through a variety of social services, particularly in the rural areas.

Due to lack of proper cold storage facility, farmers of that area, who are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, sell their produces at low prices soon after harvesting, while having to pay double the price for their own consumption during off-season and even higher prices for the seeds. The cold storage building to be constructed with the assistance of Government of India will benefit almost two lakh farmers of 15 VDCs of Morang district. This is among six development projects undertaken by the Government of India in District Morang.

Under the MOU signed on June 7, a monitoring committee has been constituted consisting of representatives from the Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi-Tulasi Smarak Mahaguthi, DDC and relevant district authorities to oversee the project, supervise the construction work and ensure effective utilization of the cooperation grant.

The project is part of the on-going bilateral economic cooperation programme between India and Nepal, under which more than 215 projects are being realized in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering almost all the districts of Nepal with an outlay of over NRs. 20 billion.