Kathmandu, Jan. 29: Maheshfaat Irrigation Project, Galchhi Rural Municipality, Dhading, built with Government of India’s financial assistance of NRs.8.82 million under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ was inaugurated  on Monday by  Kedarnath Khatiwada, Chairman, Galchhi Rural Municipality, Dhading and  Prashant Kumar Sona, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu. Representatives of political parties, government officials, social workers and members local communities were also present on this occasion. 

The grant was utilized for the implementation of Maheshfaat Irrigation Project, which was undertaken as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), under an Agreement between Government of India and Government of Nepal. This project was implemented through Galchhi Rural Municipality, Dhading. This irrigation project will help local farmers to enhance crops production and improve their livelihood and economic status. 

Since 2003, India has taken up over 550 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 488 projects. Amongst these, 106 projects are in Bagmati Province in various sectors, which includes 5 projects in Dhading. In addition to these, Government of India has gifted 974 ambulances and 234 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India. Amongst  these, 232 ambulances and 90 school buses have been gifted in Bagmati Province, which includes 15 ambulances and 2 school buses provided in Dhading District. 

As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in uplifting the lives of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sector including in the irrigation and drinking water management sector in Nepal.