Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Saturday (August 5) engaged in a telephone conversation, discussing various aspects of India-Nepal cooperation. The leaders also revisited the discussions from PM Prachanda's recent visit to India, held from May 31 to June 3, aimed at bolstering the partnership between the two nations and deepening their bonds of friendship, according to an official release from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
This dialogue continues the tradition of high-level exchanges between India and Nepal, highlighting the importance of their close and friendly neighborly relationship, which aligns with India's 'Neighborhood First' policy, it said.
In a tweet, PM Modi said: "Pleased to have spoken with the Prime Minister of Nepal today. Building upon our fruitful talks in New Delhi on 1 June, we are in agreement about the need to expedite the implementation of key decisions from our discussions. This will further strengthen the multifaceted partnership between India and Nepal".
In another positive development, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal joined hands to sign four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), news agency ANI reported.
According to the report, these agreements are set to facilitate developmental projects that will be undertaken with India's grant assistance. The projects focus on education and water supply and sanitation, with a total estimated cost of NRs. 170 million.
Specifically, the initiatives encompass the construction of school buildings in Shree Galainath Secondary School, Shailashikhar Municipality; Shree Himalaya Secondary School, Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula District; and Diding Primary School, Chichila Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha District. Additionally, the Shreepur Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Triyuga Municipality, Udayapur District, will also be a part of these developmental efforts, as per the report.
These projects aim to improve educational facilities and access to water supply and sanitation, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the local communities in Nepal, it added.
Over the years, India's commitment to Nepal's development has been evident through the implementation of various projects. Since 2003, India has undertaken 546 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, spanning areas such as health, education, drinking water, connectivity, sanitation, and other public utilities across all seven provinces of the country, the report said.
Of these, 483 projects have been successfully completed, while the remaining 63 projects are currently under implementation. The total cost of all these projects amounts to approximately NPR 1220 Crore (INR 762 Crore). Most of these initiatives are executed through the local authorities of the Nepali Government, it added further.