To provide voting machines, computers, vans

Nepalgunj, June 28:

The Indian embassy has said India will provide electronic voting machines, computers and 130 vehicles and share its election experience for the constituent assembly polls scheduled

for November 22, according to an embassy official.

Economic counsellor in the embassy Pranay Varma also said at a briefing programme here yesterday on the Indo-Nepal economic cooperation that Indian economic assistance to Nepal is on a constant rise.

According to him, the volume of assistace was Rs 110 crore last year which was increased to Rs 138 crore this year.

He said that India provided an additional sum of Rs 100 crore as emergency fund last year after the political upheaval in Nepal.

Saying that the Indian government has provided an additional sum of Rs 70 crore for the emergency fund for Nepal’s peace process this year, Varma said the Indian government is ready to provide further cooperation if necessary.

India will provide electronic voting machines, computers, 130 vehicles, training and share its election experience with Nepal for the constituent assembly polls scheduled for November 22.

According to Varma, 220 projects related to education, health community development and infrastructure with a total Indian investment of Rs 2084 crore are in progress in Nepal.

He said that a detailed project report (DPR) of the Tarai road project would be completed by July and construction would begin in 2008.

Referring to the inundation of Nepalese territory caused by the Laxmanpur dam and embankments, Varma said that he would convey the issue to the authorities concerned.

He also assured that consideration would be given to the construction of a sewage system in Nepalgunj if a proposal in this regard is forwarded by the authorities concerned.